New Perspectives in Association with HOME Presents THE FISHERMEN

Fringe First-winning playwright Gbolahan Obisesan adapts the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa's major new voices, New Perspectives in association with HOME present Chigozie Obioma's powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.

The Fishermen is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma. It was nominated for the 2015 Man Booker Prize, and was named a best book of the year by the Observer, the Economist, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal.

Director Jack McNamara said, "The rapturous response to Chigozie Obiama's novel is one of the great success stories of modern African literature, and we are honored to be presenting in stage form for the first time. With our production we have taken this intense family saga and boiled it down to an extraordinary encounter between two brothers."

Gbolahan Obisesan is a director and Fringe First winning writer. His previous plays include an adaption of Pigeon English (Bristol Old Vic, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013) and the Fringe First winning Mad About the Boy (2011), and he was one of the six writers commissioned by the Royal Court and the Young Vic for Rufus Norris' Feast. He recently held the role of Genesis Fellow/Associate Director at the Young Vic Theatre, previously directed the 2017 Olivier nominated Cuttin it (Young Vic, Birmingham Rep, Sheffield Crucible, Royal Court, Yard Theatre) and Off The Page, a short film for the Royal Court/Guardian's microplays season.

New Perspectives is an East Midlands based company with over 40 years' experience of touring highly original productions to venues of all sizes across the UK, from mid-scale theatres to village halls. Since 2012, they have been led by Artistic Director Jack McNamara and developed a distinctive programme of major international premieres. Recent Edinburgh successes include the first UK adaptation of a Lars Von Trier film, The Boss of it All (Assembly), award-winning playwright Jane Upton's Finding Nana (Pleasance) and the hit children's show The Giant Jam Sandwich (Pleasance). This year at the Fringe New Perspectives will also be presenting a stage version of John Berger's A Fortunate Man at Summerhall from 1 - 26 Aug (not 2, 13 & 20).

www.newperspectives.com

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