Drum: PROFILES
13
Armah does a phone interview. Earlier this morning he was on
‘FIX UP’ at the National Theatre. I can’t deny that I am excited
brother’ vibration. Troy Fairclough meets the latest ‘it’ man.
S
uddenly I’m ushered in, and come face to face with Finlay the paramedic from
Casualty, the runner up from Celebrity Fame Academy, last years Evening
Standard Award winner, for most promising playwright (Elimina’s Kitchen), the
Goodwill Ambassador for Christian Aid, TV presenter (The Culture Show) Journalist, and
father of three.
I take a moment to catch my breath. He looks the part,
groomed, yet not excessively, smart, yet casual. He’s
clearly weary from the current media blitz surrounding
his latest play, but remains acutely aware of his
moment in the spotlight. His experience kicks in to
support his confidence, which, in turn, makes him
exude charm. I am met by a welcoming smile. For
some reason the singer Lemar, pops into my head.
Lemar can sing, but can he act? Adrian Lester can act,
but can he present? Trevor Macdonald can present,
but can he write a play? I wonder where this crazy
train of thought is leading, and brush it aside.
I start off by asking him if he ranks his achievements
in order of preference. His achievements, he replies,
are a mixture of what he chooses to do, and that
which he has to do. The order would go father first:
must do, followed by work that he likes to do. The
work, he says, all feeds each other.
So what drives and motivates him? “My mother”, he
says, without hesitation. “My mother did five jobs in
order to feed, clothe and send her kids to fee-paying
schools. Her ambition and commitment was to reach
her potential, but still give something back to her
community.” She taught him to always work to the
best of his ability. Kwame Kwei-Armah, was born Ian
Roberts, in Southall, West London in 1967.
He went to a Performing Arts School as a child, and
got his break performing in a play at Westminster
Theatre. This led to other plays, work in Rep, West
End shows, bit parts in films, then television and
Casualty: the rest is history.
So who were his mentors and role models when he
was growing up? Again he cites his mother and
states that while growing up, there weren’t really any
British role models only Afro-Americans on TV like
Muhammad Ali. »
aissance Man