Ahead of Curve’s timely political production of Sus, The Public Reviews contributor Jemma Crowston speaks to Clint Dyer about the tour.

Set on Election night in 1979, Sus is a powerful and topical revival of Barrie Keeffe’s cry against institutional racism in Britain.

Director, Gbolaham Obisesan’s hard-hitting production opens in Leicester on May 4 at the start of its national tour.

Two detectives are working the graveyard shift in an East London police station and exchanging bets on which party will win. Their predictions are interrupted when a black man is brought in ‘on suspicion’.

Sus is a co-production between eclipse theatre and the Young Vic.

London-born Dyer is most famous for directing the Wes End’s first ever black British musical The Big Life in 2005.

Dyer will take on the persona of Leon Delroy, the man brought in on sus laws and accused of murdering his wife. The dad-of-two said, “Delroy is a heart-felt character who’s funny, cheeky and adamant that he’s innocent”.

This devastating tragedy is played out over an hour and a half with the main part set in the police station during election night. This production will run at Curve for five nights in May including Election night 2010 on May 6.

Dyer said, “It’s a very appropriate play for the times right now and we even perform during election night.”

As well as the theatrical production starting its tour, Dyer is excited about the debut release of Sus the film which he also stars in.

Thin Film Producers in London will be releasing the film on May 7. Writter, Keeffe, also wrote the screenplay for the cult classic The Long Good Friday.

When asked if he preferred doing the theatre performance or filming, Dyer replied, “I like the power of both. In a film you can delve deeper into each character and show more about them but a play is live so you can capture each emotion as they happen.”

Sus will run at Curve from Tuesday, May 4 till Saturday, May 8 at 7.45pm.

Tickets cost £10. For more information or to book tickets visit www.curveonline.co.uk or phone 0116 2423595.

Tags: Clint Dyer, Curve, Interview, Leicester, Sus