The swift rise to fame of Jamael Westman, leading man in the London cast of the hit musical Hamilton, may not equal the extraordinary ascent of the “$10 founding father” he plays in the US show, but it runs close.
Westman who was brought up in Croydon, south London, was not a fan of musical theatre before he landed the part. Now, just three years out of drama school, the 26-year-old, who is of Caribbean and Irish heritage, is seen as a figurehead for black representation in the entertainment industry after 14 months rapping in the starring role. And from this privileged position he is calling for Britain to confront its colonial past. “It is like a mental health issue and it will get worse if Britain doesn’t come to terms with it,” he told the Observer.
Continue reading...from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2FvFJ1k
via
0 Comments