Ernest Trimmingham. First black man to have his play performed on London stage. One of my favourite actors is James Mason. Whilst reading his book Before I Forget * I came across the name Ernest Trimmingham. Mason and Trimmingham had boarded in roooms at a house in Endell Street, London at the same time and became friends. Mason wrote that Trimmingham was one of very few black actors around in London after the first world war. Trimmingham was apparently very tall, a snappy dresser and had a love of book shops on Charing Cross Road. I have not been able to find a nice picture of Trimmingham just the following cartoon.* *Hamish Hamilton of London *Chronicle/Alamy Stock Photo.