Retrograde Playtext

by Ryan Calais Cameron

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.