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Overview

Synopsis

Caryl Philips’ epic play is adapted from Simon Schama’s historical account of the thousands of African-American slaves who escaped slavery in the American colonies to fight for the British cause during the American Revolution. Rough Crossings covers 15 years of history and traverses three continents, from America to Nova Scotia to England, and then on to Sierra Leone. We follow the journey of Thomas Peters, David George, and their fellow ex-slaves as they put their fate (some more willingly than others) in the hands of John Clarkson and the Sierra Leone Company. Clarkson is an idealistic naval officer who firmly believes in a multi-racial, eighteenth-century utopia, but the conflict between benevolent White liberalism and an emerging Black political consciousness and self-determination threatens to undermine the project. Running at over three hours, Rough Crossings is an ambitious exploration of racial identity, and the definition of freedom and home.

Show Information

Conceived By
Simon Schama
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Simon Schama's Rough Crossings (2005)
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2007
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Simple/No Set
Time & Place
America, Nova Scotia, England, Sierra Leone, Eighteenth Century
Cast Size
large
Ideal For
Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

John Clarkson

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Thomas Peters

Lead

Male

Non-singer

David George

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Thomas Clarkson

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Eliza Sharp

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Granville Sharp

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Sally Peters

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Alexander Falconbridge

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Anna Maria Falconbridge

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Isaac

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

General Lord Charles Cornwallis

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

William Sharp

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Phyllis George

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Henry De Mane

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Sergeant Davy

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    The movement responsible for ending the transatlantic slave trade in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

    The revolt of the American colonies against Great Britain, beginning in 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord and ending at Yorktown in 1781.

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher