We sat down for an exclusive interview with Kenneth Butler, performer of Asante in ‘The Last Black Messiah’.
‘The Last Black Messiah’ runs from Tuesday 28th – Saturday 16th May at the Jack Studio Theatre – Tickets here
Asante sits between observer and participant—how did you navigate that tension in performance?
To navigate the tension, it is important to remember when I need to become the observer and when I have to actively manipulate the situation. It’s very important that i find those shifts.
Having previously played Martin Luther King, how does The Last Black Messiah complicate or challenge your understanding of leadership and legacy?
The two shows explore the different tactics that black Americans have always had to use in the struggle for freedom. I think, if anything, doing these two shows highlights that there are many leaders in our struggle, and for their good or bad, they should be remembered.
What drew you to Asante’s perspective within such a politically and emotionally charged two-hander?
I am very understanding of both Asante’s belief that there is a way to find safety within the system and Oko’s perspective that the system is built against us. It is only human to want to protect yourself and your loved ones, and in Asante’s case, he does what he believes is safe.
How do you balance the intellectual debate with the deeply personal stakes between Asante and Dr. Oko?
The debate between the two characters is the surface for the subtext and the stakes that each character is dealing with, behind the scenes. It is important for me to always have the stakes for Asante lingering in my mind.
What does the play reveal about the cost of documenting versus actively shaping history?
I think the play reveals that history is not always documented by those who shape it. Sometimes, the most influential events and people don’t get to have their story told honestly.
In a story rooted in the 90s, what feels most urgently contemporary to you as a performer today?
I think it is important, especially for us now, to remember that there has been a lot of work done to bring us this far, and there is a lot that we still need to do.