Inua Ellams News

Today the full programme of events has been announced around Fly The Flag, a major new project marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and brand new images of Ai Weiwei with young people have been released.

Almost four years since Good Chance built its first 'Theatre of Hope' in the Calais Jungle camp and began its ground-breaking international programme of work with artists from refugee backgrounds, the award-winning charity is delighted to announce a season of programmes and performances across summer and autumn 2019 in the UK and France. Highlights include:

BAM Artistic Director David Binder today announced programming for his first artistic season, the Next Wave 2019. With 16 adventurous engagements by artists making BAM debuts, the season includes theater, dance, music, film, site-specific, and multi-genre work across BAM's venues and off-site, as well as Holiday programming.

Producer Farm is a joint initiative from Bristol Old Vic Ferment, Coombe Farm Studios, Dance Umbrella, Fuel and In Between Time. Now in its fourth year, the week-long residency for creative producers returns to Coombe Farm Studios in Dittisham, Devon in June 2019. The programme aims to provide time and space for producers in any field of contemporary performance to consider their current work and future potential.

The 2019 WICKED YOUNG WRITER AWARDS (www.wickedyoungwriterawards.com), created by the producers of the musical WICKED in partnership with the National Literacy Trust (www.literacytrust.org.uk) are today (Tuesday 21 May 2019) announcing the names of the 120 finalists in the running for the annual creative prizes. Championed by Patron Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, the judges this year include two poets, Inua Ellams and Hussain Manawar in recognition of the huge growth in poetry buying and writing amongst young people. They are joined by the author and illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon books Cressida Cowell, who returns as Head Judge for the fifth consecutive year, together with longstanding judges Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, Michael McCabe, Executive Producer (UK) of WICKED and Nicky Cox MBE, Editor in Chief of First News (a joint sponsor of the Award prize for the 'FOR GOOD' category). The Awards Ambassador is best-selling author of the Jamie Johnson football books, Dan Freedman, who has visited schools around the country to raise awareness of the WICKED YOUNG WRITER AWARDS.

Inua Ellams' hit play Barber Shop Chronicles today marks its 250th performance by announcing new autumn dates and a special programme of work Fades, Braids & Identity which will run alongside the season at the Roundhouse in London, opening in nine weeks. The overwhelmingly successful Barber Shop Chronicles returns to London for the first time since its premiere in 2017, playing two sold out runs at the National Theatre and acclaimed performances at Leeds Playhouse. It has subsequently toured across Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America and Canada.

'It's your pub' says Winston, about the Three Kings Barber shop in London. The African barbers at the shop don't drink, so the barber shop has become the hub of the community. It's the place to watch the football, recount stories and tell jokes.

In an hour and a half of fable, poetry, and traditional storytelling, Inis Nua's Untitled beautifully presents a tale of culture, privilege and destiny.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre's outgoing Artistic Director, Roxana Silbert, today announces the theatre's Autumn and Winter 2019 season, launching a programme of familiar favourites side-by-side with new and inspiring theatre.

We risk war. This is the consequence. Battle. Shield. Spear and sword. Conflict amongst the Gods. This must be avoided.'

With SS Mendi, a co-production with Isango Ensemble, opening this week at Royal Opera House, Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Samuel Hodges, today announces the full cast for a new staging of Peter Morgan's The Audience. Samuel Hodges directs Lizzie Hopley as Margaret Thatcher and Bobo MacDonald, Paul Kemp as all other Prime Ministers, Sharon Singh as The Equerry and Fay Burwell and Maddie Farmer share the role of Young Elizabeth, joining the previously announced Faye Castelow as Queen Elizabeth II. The production opens on 30 May, with previews from 24 May, and runs until 22 June.

With Peter Morgan's The Audience opening next month, Samuel Hodges, director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres today announces the company will be commissioning a new play about local pub, The Hobbit and its legal battle with a Hollywood film company over copyright infringement which began in 2012.

With the critically acclaimed The Son currently running at Kiln Theatre, and with Inua Ellams' The Half God of Rainfall in rehearsals, Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham today announced the full cast for Blues in the Night - Susie McKenna directs Sharon D Clarke (The Lady), Debbie Kurup (The Woman), Clive Rowe (The Man) and Gemma Sutton (The Girl) the first major London revival in 30 years. The production opens on 24 July, with previews from 18 July, and runs until 7 September.

National Theatre has announced its listings for May - October 2019. Check out the full lineup below!

Inua Ellams' new play, The Half God of Rainfall receives its world premiere at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 13 - 20 April (press night Tue 16 April, 7pm).

Inis Nua Theatre presents Nigerian-British playwright Inua Ellams' UNTITLED in its American premiere, directed by Jerrell L. Henderson. UNTITLED is a monologue play in two parts, with one actor playing twin brothers born on Nigeria's Independence Day. But on the night of their traditional naming ceremony, one infant brother cries out and refuses to be named plunging him into a life of chaos.

Fly The Flag is a major new project marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In a unique collaboration, a wide-ranging group of arts organisations and human rights charities commissioned Ai Weiwei to design a new flag in response to the real and present dangers of a world changing at break-neck speed, to offer hope and to educate generations to come about the absolute importance of universal human rights.

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Samuel Hodges, today announces Faye Castelow as Queen Elizabeth II in the UK regional premiere of Peter Morgan's The Audience. The production, directed by Samuel Hodges, opens on 30 May, with previews from 24 May, and runs until 22 June. Further casting to be announced.

Casting has been announced for Nancy Medina's forthcoming production of Inua Ellams' new play The Half-God of Rainfall. Rakie Ayola (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) will play Modupe, mother to her half-god son Demi who will be played by Kwami Odoom (Barber Shop Chronicles). This world premiere production will be directed by Nancy Medina, designed by Max Johns, with movement direction by Imogen Knight, sound design by Tanuja Amarasuriya, lighting design by Jackie Shemesh and casting by Briony Barnett.

Fuel have today announced the cast for the UK tour of Inua Ellams' critically acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles which returns by popular demand.