Kick It Out Drama Comes To Maidstone

Kick It Out, football's equality and inclusion organisation, have commissioned the award winning playwright Dougie Blaxland to produce a new play to coincide with Black History Month 2019. 

Working throughout the football, educational and community sectors to challenge discrimination and racism, Kick It Out are delighted to announced that the drama, Getting the Third Degree, will begin a nationwide tour of the UK, with the support of Arts Council England, beginning in October 2019. As part of the tour it will be coming to The Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone, on Thursday 31st October at 7.30pm. Tickets, are available here.

This compelling new drama tells the powerful and deeply moving dramatisation of story of Laurie Cunningham, who came to prominence with West Bromwich Albion in the late 1970’s. The first of the black footballing trio famously dubbed The Three Degrees - Laurie Cunningham with his swaggering style and dazzling skills forced favourable comparisons with the legendary Pele.

Laurie Cunningham who came to prominence with West Bromwich Albion in the late 1970’s

The first black footballer to sign for the mighty Real Madrid, and only the second to win a full cap for England, he inspired a whole generation of young black players to follow in his pioneering footsteps. 

In dramatising Laurie Cunningham’s meteoric rise to stardom, Getting The Third Degree also explores how he and his fellow black players - Brendon Batson and Cyrille Regis - triumphed over the racial abuse and physical threats often orchestrated by The National Front through a potent combination of footballing brilliance, charismatic style and compelling dignity. 

Incorporating 1970’s funk, soul, blues, contemporary commentary and social and political speeches, Getting The Third Degree is a powerful piece of theatre that vividly recreates a tense and troubled period in the history of football and the wider society. 

The Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone

Kick It Out believe that Getting The Third Degree has the potential to deliver an incredibly powerful message in support of our battle against racism in football.

For more information you can also visit the Kick it Out Website here.