Kick it Out celebrates 25 years with a new play about Laurie Cunningham

Kick It Out commissions new Laurie Cunningham play for Black History Month UK 2019 at Salford Arts on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th November As part of the 25th anniversary of its foundation to combat racism and discrimination

in football, Kick It Out is delighted to announce the commissioning of a new play based on the extraordinary and inspiring life of Laurie Cunningham to coincide with

Black History Month UK 2019.

Written by award winning playwright Dougie Blaxland and directed by Roughhouse Theatre Getting the Third Degree will begin a month’s nationwide tour of the UK in October and it will be staged at Salford Arts on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th November.

(Tickets available at 0161 925 0111 or via the link below

This compelling new drama tells the powerful and deeply moving story of Laurie Cunningham who came to prominence with West Bromwich Albion in the late 1970’s. The first of the black footballing trio famously dubbed The Three Degrees -

Laurie Cunningham with his swaggering style and dazzling skills forced favourable comparisons with the legendary Pele. The first ever millionaire black footballer, the first player of colour to sign for the mighty Real Madrid and only the second to win a full cap for England he inspired a whole generation of young black players to follow in his pioneering footsteps.

In dramatising Laurie Cunningham’s meteoric rise to stardom Getting The Third Degree also explores how he and his fellow black players - Brendon Batson and Cyrille Regis - triumphed over the racial abuse and physical threats often orchestrated by The National Front through a potent combination of footballing brilliance, charismatic style and compelling dignity.

Incorporating 1970’s funk, soul, blues, jazz/jive dance, football songs/chants, contemporary commentary and social and political speeches Getting The Third Degree is a powerful piece of total theatre that vividly recreates a tense and troubled period in the history of football and the wider society.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Laurie Cunningham's niece, Rhodene Cunningham said 'we are delighted that Kick It Out has commissioned this new stage play about Laurie' s life. He was a very special man loved by us all and we hope that his pioneering story will be an inspiration to everyone who comes to see the production'. 

Published: 12-Oct-2019: (5591)