NEWS: Noughts And Crosses @ Northern Stage

Image by Robert Day

Based on the acclaimed series of young adult novels by British author Malorie Blackman, Noughts And Crosses has been successfully adapted for stage and television. Winner of Excellence in Touring at the UK Theatre Awards 2019 and adapted by Sabrina Mahfouz, this absorbing production from Pilot Theatre explores love, revolution and what it means to grow up in a divided world.

In this present day alternative history of racial and social divides, a captivating romance as gripping as Romeo And Juliet unfolds. Sephy is a Cross and Callum is a Nought. Whilst slavery has been abolished, segregation continues to operate. The Crosses (dark-skinned people) are firmly in control of the noughts (lighter-skinned people). And yet Sephy and Callum sit together on a beach. They are in love. And it is forbidden.

Beyond the all-consuming reality of their deep love for one another, there is danger all around. This segregated society teeters on a volatile knife edge. As pressure mounts to take sides, Sephy and Callum draw even closer to each other. In their world, it is not safe for them to be together. And yet they cannot be apart.

It turns out that this work of speculative fiction is not so very far from reality. As Albert Camus said, “Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.” In Noughts And Crosses, the truth is clear to see.

Noughts And Crosses is at Northern Stage, Newcastle from Tuesday 18^th-Saturday 22^nd October.