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
- Book
- Caryl Phillips
- 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
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
Songs
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
Scenes
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.
Videos
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher