Idris Elba Denies Plagiarism Claims From 2 Former Writers on His Play, ‘Tree’
Idris Elba has denies claims made by two former writers on his play “Tree,” who say their work was plagiarized and that they were forced off of the project, which premieres at the Manchester International Festival on Friday.The two female writers, Tori Allen-Martin and Sarah Henley, made the accusation in a Medium post on Tuesday, titled “Tree.
A Story of Gender and Power in Theatre.” In it, they explained their involvement in the project over four years, including “multiple drafts, workshops, re-drafts and industry performances,” and said that Kwame Kwei-Armah, who is listed as a creator alongside Elba, took credit for their ideas.Elba released a statement on Twitter Thursday explaining that the origins of the play was inspired by his desire to visit his late father’s birthplace in South Africa, reflected in the song “Tree” from his album “Mi Mandela,” which serves as the basis of the play.
