Following two sell-out runs at the National Theatre in 2017 which saw Barber Shop Chronicles receive widespread critical acclaim, four new cast members have been announced for 2018's international dates in New Zealand and Australia. For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops. Sometimes they have haircuts, sometimes they listen, more often than not they talk. This heart-warming, hilarious and insightful new play, set in Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra and London, explores the role of barber shops as confession boxes, political platforms, preacher-pulpits and football pitches... places to go for unofficial advice, and to keep in touch with the world.
Fuel today announces its 2018 season features a programme of work commissioned to imagine what kind of world might lie ahead. Fuel invites artists to illuminate the past, and reflect on where we are today, to help us imagine a future, considering some of the biggest questions we are faced with today - from gender to migration - both at scale and in intimate settings.
Inua Ellams' dynamic new play debuted last June, to critical acclaim. Following its successful run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Barber Shop Chronicles returns to the National with a bang. The story takes its audience to barber shops in Peckham, Johannesburg, Lagos, Accra, Harare and Kampala.
Below, BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities, including Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville (an NYT member), who gave the cast a pep talk ahead of taking the stage!
Following the sell out run at the National Theatre this summer extra dates have now been added for the return of Inua Ellams' play Barber Shop Chronicles to the Dorfman this autumn, now opening on 20 November and in repertoire until the 9 January. Tickets go on sale at midday on Thursday 31 August.
BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES, a new play by Inua Ellams, just finished a run at the National Theatre through 8 July 2017, in a co-production with Fuel and West Yorkshire Playhouse.
BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES, a new play by Inua Ellams, begins previews at the National Theatre from 30 May, with press night 7 June, in repertoire until 8 July 2017, in a co-production with Fuel and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Directed by Bijan Sheibani.
