BBC (Big Black Cockroach)

written and performed by Paul Outlaw - directed by Sara Lyons

World Premiere at REDCAT (Los Angeles, CA) - June 20-22, 2024

Available for booking

Writer and performer Paul Outlaw returns to REDCAT with a gripping work of experimental theater, inspired by classical European mythology, American comic books, current events, and Franz Kafka’s best known novella, Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis). A nightmarish satire, in which a right-wing American white woman wakes up in the body of a Black man, BBC (Big Black Cockroach) mixes a disorienting cocktail of historical violence and near-future visions. Innovative design elements, including projections and spatialized sound design built entirely from recordings of Outlaw’s voice and movements, echo the expanding identities within the protagonist, and the production’s indelible central image—a queer Black male body in stark isolation—becomes the vessel for America’s violent past, present, and future.

lighting design by Chu-hsuan Chang

sound design by Jonathan Snipes

projections and visual media design by Hana S. Kim

stage management by Lanae Wilks

PR: Matt Johnstone Publicity

produced by OutlawPlay

production management and co-production by Brooke Harbaugh

BBC (Big Black Cockroach) work in progress
written and performed by Paul Outlaw

directed by Sara Lyons

lighting design by Chu-hsuan Chang

sound design by Jonathan Snipes

REDCAT New Original Works Festival 2019, Week 2

August 1-3, 2019 - REDCAT, Los Angeles, CA

Inspired by Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis: a white, cis, heterosexual, Tr*mp-supporting American woman awakens to find herself transformed into what she considers a monstrous vermin—an African-American man. Directed by Sara Lyons, Paul Outlaw’s solo performance BBC (Big Black Cockroach) is an evocative, farcical horror show about black virility, white fragility, gender confusion, internalized homophobia and misogyny. 

“…gut-wrenching…Beautifully directed by Sara Lyons and enhanced by the severely stark and aggressive lighting by Chu-hsuan Chang, Outlaw confronts and exposes both white and black stereotypes, fears of “the other” and common racist statements made by people who think of themselves as non-racist or bigoted.” -LA Dance Chronicle

“The use of light set each new scene and the writing was superb…The power of this work is a see-for-yourself kind of experience. Paul Outlaw will challenge you and leave you stunned.” -Broadway World

“this challenging work impacted me the most of all the works in the festival this year…The power of BBC’s exploration of xenophobia, black virility, and gender confusion left me speechless and stunned.” -Artillery Mag