We all know that there is a lot of banter in barber shops and now a play which journeys from London to Johannesburg, Lagos and Accra confirms that the banter can be barbed and the truth is always telling.
Olivier award winner Bijan Sheibani directs this production of Barber Shop Chronicles which has had two sold out runs at the National Theatre as well as much success on international tour.
Newsroom, political platform, local hot-spot, confession box, preacher-pulpit and football stadium – for generations, African men have gathered in barber shops to discuss the world.
Writer Inua Ellams said: “My journey as a theatre maker began with a Fringe First in Scotland in 2009, with my first play The 14th Tale, which later transferred to the National Theatre. In the play, I first shared the themes of fatherhood, migration and globalisation which were further explored in the Barber Shop Chronicles. It feels somewhat fated now that it is, transferring from the National to Scotland, and I’m excited to see how Scottish audiences will respond to the broadening of a conversation I started with them 10 years ago.”
David Greig said: “I think Inua Ellams is one of today’s most exciting voices in poetry and theatre, a feeling only heightened when I saw this smash hit originally staged at the National Theatre in London.
“In this piece, he has woven a patchwork of barber shop banter from around the globe and welcomes you into this world with warmth, music, humour and politics – with a large and small p. Having grown up in Nigeria, I’ve been keen to welcome a Nigerian/British story to The Lyceum stage and Inua brings this rich duality to the fore with Barber Shop Chronicles.”
Barber Shop Chronicles
By Inua Ellams
Directed by Bijan Sheibani
Designed by Rae Smith
Movement Direction by Aline David
Music Direction by Michael Henry
23 October – 9 November 2019
Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Cast
Micah Balfour
Okorie Chukwu
Maynard Eziashi
Adé Dee Haastrup
Emmanuel Ighodaro
Demmy Ladipo
Mohammed Mansaray
Tom Moutchi
Anthony Ofoegbu
Elmi Rashid Elmi
Eric Shango
David Webber
Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Address: The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Grindlay Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9AX
Box Office: 0131 248 4848 / boxoffice@lyceum.org.uk
Group Bookings: 0131 248 4949
Website: lyceum.org.uk
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
