Thread by @RSLiterature

‘4 of the naughtiest kids in the class, at the end of the play we were all in tears. 4 of these big burly lads in tears at this play, that just blew my mind. I had no idea drama, acting a play could create that kind of magic’ @DavidHarewood on seeing King Lear for the first time

‘It wasn’t until I came out of drama school that I realised there was a difference, the moment in my head I started to understand the significance of my colour… that was the beginning of my unravelling’ - @DavidHarewood

‘What’s scary, and what comes out in your book, is you don’t even realise you’re carrying it until something happens, something breaks or opens.’ @garyyounge in conversation with @DavidHarewood @britishlibrary

‘You’re only limited by the perceptions of others.’ @DavidHarewood #LiteratureMatters #RSL200

‘I want to talk about class - when I think of reading, I remember I didn’t read for pleasure until I saw posh kids that had read. Then I started reading out of spite. And then I realised how much I liked it.’ @garyyounge #LiteratureMatters #RSL200

As an actor, the reality of only being able to play what people could see me as was crushing. This panic started to overwhelm me. I believed I could play anything but I couldn’t see myself reflected anywhere, in any theatre posters. @DavidHarewood

‘There was a bit of me that thought, while writing this book, I’d be letting the side down with people saying “you’re being weak.” Actually, it’s anything but that. The amount of people - particularly young Black men - who have come up to me to say thank you. It’s incredible.’

Making the documentary showed me how I fell apart; writing the book helped me to work out my way back to myself as a young boy. @DavidHarewood #LiteratureMatters #RSL200

With my book and going through my history it felt like a final piece in the jigsaw being put in place. After 30 years, I’m in possession of my full story. @DavidHarewood in conversation with @garyyounge #LiteratureMatters

‘One of the things I find interesting in these conversations is the amount of heavy lifting we have to do. Our stories are intertwined - sometimes I wish white people would do more heavy lifting in terms of finding their connection to us.’ @garyyounge

‘The book that first got me fixated on fiction was “The Color Purple”… it electrified me and made me think that there’s something in this reading thing!’ @garyyounge at the @britishlibrary #LiteratureMatters #RSL200

For @DavidHarewood, ‘“The Master and Margarita” was just so imaginative and extraordinarily funny. It set me alight and, I thought, “I love the idea of books and want to get some more”’! #LiteratureMatters #RSL200