User:Truth 123/Sam 'Black Hole' Austin

Sam 'Black Hole' Austin

Sam Austin, better known as Sam 'Black Hole' Austin was an English playright and poet from the 1920's. He gained moderate success and acclaim through his published works. His works have been published in 3 languages.

Austin was born in Hastings on the 6th October 1885, and died 4th April 1933.

He moved to France in 1903 to work with several Circus acts that were touring France at that time. Before moving back to Hastings in 1917. Upon his return he wrote his first play titled "Jean Evra - Becoming a Man". The play was performed by several local theatre companies which gave him a platform to showcase 2 further screen plays, "Inside Me" and "The Meat Market" before his 35th birthday.

His most famous work, which he received moderate local acclaim for was titled "My Black Hole". The play was written and performed in 1923. This is where he gained the nickname from. The play is considered to be an autobiographical account of his life. Despite receiving good reviews, the play was also subject to strong critism from anti-homosexual groups at the time.

Austin went on to write 1 more notable work in 1926. The play was met with fiece objection and only completed 1 perfomance from the 35 planned in Hastings of that year. The play was titled "We Shall Be Together" and Austin cast himself as the lead alongside his partner at the time, "Ricky Gould". The play was about 2 men fighting to have their relationship accepted by their families. It was critized for being too similar to Shakespeare's, Romeo & Juliet. Anti-Homosexual groups also protested it's release.

It wasn't until the 1960's that his works were accepted as works of inspiration and a flagship for the homosexual community.

References

Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s by Frederick Lewis Allen (p35)

Anything Goes: A Biography of the Roaring Twenties by Lucy Moore (p131)