The Bitter Game at Oberon

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Presented in five acts structured as the four quarters and overtime of a basketball game, The Bitter Game blends poetry and prose to examine the impact of police brutality, the resulting trauma reflected on communities of color, and the value of Black lives. Artist-activist Keith A. Wallace draws on his own experiences growing up in Philadelphia as he portrays multiple characters in an exploration of the experience of being Black in America.

“The work I’m interested in creating and consuming focuses on issues of racial inequity and injustice,” says Wallace. “With this play, I’m trying to create an opportunity for empathy—exposing humanity and emotion in a way that we can all see ourselves reflected in a particular story, that makes us responsible in a whole new way.”

“The impact of Keith’s art is amplified by virtue of his holding his role as artist and activist with equal weight,” says A.R.T. line producer Mark Lunsford. “We are excited to bring his incredibly insightful and important voice to Boston.”

The solo performance was praised by The New York Times as “high-impact…a sharp reminder of the persuasive powers of live theater.” The Bitter Game comes to OBERON following its acclaimed run at the Under the Radar Festival at New York’s Public Theater.

OBERON presents The Bitter Game September 14 – September 16. Performance dates and times:Thursday, September 14 – Saturday, September 16 at 7:30PM; Saturday, September 16 at 4PM

After a limited engagement at OBERON, The Bitter Game will play two free, site-specific performances at the following venues:

Mattapan Teen Center (10 Hazleton St., Mattapan, MA), Wednesday, September 20 at 7PM

Harambee Basketball Court at the Perkins Community Center (155 Talbot Ave., Dorchester Center, MA), Thursday, September 21 at 6PM.

Visit americanrepertorytheatre.org/TheBitterGame for additional information about the production and site-specific performances.