Created out of frustration with the lack of attention towards Black women’s maternal health, writer and performer Zakiyyah Deen’s debut play, Why A Black Woman Will Never Be Prime Minister, scrutinizes how intersectionality and British politics contribute to the lived experiences of Black women’s maternal journeys.
The co-production with Deen is part of Camden People’s Theatre’s 30th anniversary season championing early-career artists. We caught up with Deen to find out more about the play.
Q&A with Zakiyyah Deen
What can you tell us about your play Why A Black Woman Will Never Be Prime Minister?
The play follows Shanice, a young Black woman, and John, who’s just starting his political campaign. Shanice represents the people, the real lived experiences, while John is the face of the system. They come from the same part of London but live in totally different worlds. The story looks at how their paths cross and really digs into the hypocrisy between the diversity politics claims and the actual reality. It’s a mix of satire, spoken word, and narrative, exploring everything from British politics to Black women’s maternal health.
What was it that inspired you to create the play?
It all started in a playwriting workshop where the advice was “write what you know and care about.” The more I thought about it, the more I realised Black women’s maternal health wasn’t getting the attention it deserved. Then I found out Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women – that stat stuck with me. I couldn’t ignore it. My mum’s a doula, so we talked about it a lot during lockdown. That frustration, mixed with the mess of politics at the moment, made me want to write something bold, something that would get people talking.
What was it about theatre as a medium that made it the right place to explore these themes of lack of women’s maternal health?
Theatre’s got this magic where you can bring social issues into a space that feels both personal and public. There’s something powerful about seeing these issues unfold live in front of you. You’re in the room with these characters, hearing their stories, feeling their struggles. Plus, the play blends spoken word and poetry, which fits so perfectly with theatre – there’s nothing quite like delivering those raw emotions live. It makes people lean in, think, and connect in a way that’s harder to do in other mediums.
This is your debut play – how does it feel?
It’s mad exciting but also a bit nerve-wracking, not gonna lie. I’ve performed on stage before, but this is the first time I’m bringing a full-length piece of my own writing to life. It’s different when you’re putting your own words, your own experiences out there for people to see. There’s definitely a buzz, though, seeing something I’ve worked on for years finally hit the stage. It feels like a big step and I’m gassed to see how it will be received.
How do you hope audiences react to the play?
I want them to feel, think, and talk. The goal is to get people to start real conversations, especially about Black women’s health and how politics affects real lives. It’s got some humour in it too, so I hope they’re laughing one minute and then really reflecting the next. I want them to leave the theatre questioning the systems we’ve got in place, maybe even feeling a bit uncomfortable, but also inspired to do something about it. If it sparks just one person to start thinking differently, then I’ve done my job.
Why A Black Woman Will Never Be Prime Minister is at Camden People’s Theatre until 9 November
