Alright darlings… time for a confession.
Hands up, satchel over my head – I missed this one. Yes, me, Grace Hatchell. But let me tell you what happened…
Word started to spread amongst the secret network of theatre ushers – whispers by the watercoolers, knowing glances in the queue for falafel wraps – that In The Black was the one to watch. So, like any good courier of theatrical excellence, I dispatched Andrew, the godfather of Theatre Village himself, to investigate. He’s got a better nose for a 5-star solo than a bloodhound in the Pleasance Courtyard.
And oh, it’s a good thing we didn’t ignore those whispers, because guess what?
The show’s just been nominated for a Popcorn Writing Award. Too right.
Switching over to Andrew now… he’s earned his critic stripes on this one.
In The Black is a gripping, darkly comic solo play that takes us into the cutthroat world of Wall Street through the eyes of an ambitious Black accountant. It asks: how far will you go to succeed in a system that was never designed for you – and what will it cost you? Love, identity, power… it’s all on the table, and this character has to claw his way up with everything he’s got.
Framed from within a jail cell, the story rewinds through a series of seamless scene shifts, cleverly marked with simple clothing changes rather than blackouts or elaborate sets. It’s smart storytelling – nothing gets in the way.
Quaz Degraft gives a performance that is razor-sharp and deeply rehearsed – every line delivered with purpose. The writing keeps one foot in reality, and because of that, the story carries weight – it’s gritty, grounded, and believable. The whole thing felt like reading a gripping novel aloud – each moment opening into the next, with audible gasps from the audience as certain truths landed. It was clear: the crowd was listening. Properly listening. And they were shocked in all the right places.
The show ended with a standing ovation, and rightly so. The audience knew they’d just witnessed something powerful – something ready for bigger stages.
I can’t fault it. It’s one of those rare Fringe pieces that doesn’t just feel like a great show – it feels like a full-course theatrical meal, no starters skipped, no sides scrimped, and absolutely no room left on the plate.
We’re sorry we didn’t catch it sooner – but we showed up when it mattered.
And we’re proud to award 5 stars.
This play is ready – ready to leap off the Fringe and take on the world.
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