Do you ever hear about a historical figure for the first time, and wonder how on earth they’re not a household name? That’s how I felt watching All White, Everything But Me at the Live Theatre. This one-woman show chronicles the life of Althea Gibson, the first Black Wimbledon champion, from her impoverished childhood as the daughter of sharecroppers in South Carolina, through her illustrious amateur tennis career, to her eventual move to professional tennis and subsequent fade from the public consciousness.

Breaking boundaries throughout her career, Gibson faced racism in many different forms, from being spat at by spectators at tennis matches to being forced by interviewers into the role of African-American spokeswoman. Actress and writer Kemi-Bo Jacobs perfectly captures Gibson’s passion for tennis, and her confusion at being seen as a symbol instead of a sportswoman.

Although she has been somewhat forgotten over time, Gibson’s influence remains, both in the spheres of professional tennis and racial equality. Jacobs does justice to this story, acutely aware that it has gone too long untold.

Sid Purvis