Lab PerForum Collaboration Kicks Off with BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Georgetown University's Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics (The Lab) present Lab PerForum, a series of public discussions and workshops with artists from the Kennedy Center's WORLD STAGES series. The Lab PerForumcollaboration begins with discussions provoked by the Fuel, Royal National Theater, and West Yorkshire Playhouse co-production of Barber Shop Chronicles by Inua Ellams.

The Lab PerForum series provides intimate access to leading theater artists from around the world though, panels, discussions, and interactive workshops. Through a partnership with the Kennedy Center, The Lab's signature approach offers rare insight into the artistic approaches and social contexts of work from artists around the world who are using theater to engage the most pressing issues of our time.

Following the Wednesday, November 28 performance of Barber Shop Chronicles, theatergoers are encouraged to stay for a post-show discussion with playwright Inua Ellams and Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of the National Museum of African Art. On Friday, November 30 the public is invited to the Gonda Theater at Georgetown's Davis Performing Arts Center for a free deep-dive into the play with Inua Ellams.

Set in barbershops in Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra, and London,Barber Shop Chronicles welcomes audiences into this unique, intimate community where African men gather to discuss the world and their lives. Following its lauded run at the Royal National Theater in London, Inua Ellams's "funny and joyous but equally poignant" play (The Guardian) runs at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater November 28­-December 1, 2018.

Directed by Bijan Sheibani and designed by Rae Smith, Barber Shop Chroniclesstars Tuwaine Barrett, Elliot Edusah, Maynard Eziashi, Alhaji Fofana, Solomon Israel, Mohammed Mansaray, Patrice Naiambana, Anthony Ofoegbu, Kenneth Omole, Ekow Quartey, Jo Servi, and David Webber. The production features lighting design by Jack Knowles, movement by Aline David, sound design by Gareth Fry, and music by Michael Henry.

The Lab PerForum series will continue throughout the season with workshops and discussions surrounding around the upcoming WORLD STAGES presentations ofNeoArctic (February 13-16, 2019 in the Terrace Theater) and The Last Supper(March 14-16 in the Family Theater).

Ticket Information

Tickets to the Lab PerForum event can be found HERE.

Photo Credit: Tim Trumble