The 'sus' laws made it legal for police to stop and search anyone - purely on suspicion. It's election night 1979. Two detectives on the graveyard shift in an East London Police station exchange bets on which party will win.A black man is picked up at his local pub. He is incensed believing that he'll just be fodder for a new government keen to flex its law-and-order muscles.Written in the early days of Thatcherism, Sus is a powerful cry against institutional racism. Keefe pulls no punches in his depiction of a corrupt system that fails the very people it should protect. Barrie Keefe's highly praised work includes the cult classic film The Long Good Friday as well as the much performed plays Gotcha, Gimmie Shelter and Barbarians.
Directed by Gbolahan Obisesan – recipient of 2008 Jerwood Directors award.
Sus is at the Young Vic from 15 to 20 June, 2009.
Address: Young Vic, 66 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LZ Tickets: £7.50. No discounts. Box office: 020 7922 2922
The 'sus' laws made it legal for police to stop and search anyone - purely on suspicion. It's election night 1979. Two detectives on the graveyard shift in an East London Police station exchange bets on which party will win.A black man is picked up at his local pub. He is incensed believing that he'll just be fodder for a new government keen to flex its law-and-order muscles.Written in the early days of Thatcherism, Sus is a powerful cry against institutional racism. Keefe pulls no punches in his depiction of a corrupt system that fails the very people it should protect. Barrie Keefe's highly praised work includes the cult classic film The Long Good Friday as well as the much performed plays Gotcha, Gimmie Shelter and Barbarians.
