This revised and updated edition of Ryan Calais Cameron's explosive play Retrograde explores identity, resilience and integrity as it examines a true event in 1950s Hollywood and the reality of a Black actor's journey to stardom.

Mr Parks, this isn't just a movie, it's a whole movement. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant.

The Golden Age of Hollywood. Behind closed doors, aspiring actor Sidney Poitier is offered a lucrative contract that could make him a superstar. But what is he willing to sacrifice?

From the writer of the award-winning, smash hit For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, Ryan Calais Cameron's explosive play Retrograde explores identity, resilience and integrity as it examines a true event in 1950s Hollywood and the reality of a Black actor's journey to stardom. This world premiere explores a moment in a career which paved ways and changed perceptions, cementing the legacy of a Hollywood icon. Retrograde asks the question: how much have we really evolved?

This revised and updated edition was published to coincide with the West End transfer in March 2025 following its premiere at The Kiln Theatre.

"The finest play about a pivotal moment in civil rights history" - The Telegraph

"one of theatre's most thrilling voices" - Independent

"Exceptional" - Guardian