At the Royal and Derngate in Northampton, Inua Ellams continues to demonstrate a distinctive ability to render intricate subjects into engaging theatrical experiences, displaying a stylistic flair reminiscent of Tom Stoppard or Caryl Churchill.
Ellams has spent the last decade crafting inventive and educational productions centered on contemporary Nigeria. His earlier work, Barber Shop Chronicles, utilized hair care as a vehicle for sharp commentary on masculinity and politics. While The Half God of Rainfall took a narrative detour to Mount Olympus, staying true to his unconventional structural approach, it remained firmly focused on postcolonial Nigeria. Similarly, his acclaimed adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters, set in 1960s Africa, highlighted the social upheavals caused by British imperial ruler Lord Lugard’s coercive unification of various cultures in the playwright’s birth nation.
His newest production, Once Upon A Time In Sokoto, tackles the often-overlooked history of intra-African slavery with the same energetic spirit. The show is currently playing at the Royal and Derngate in Northampton until October 10 before embarking on a tour.
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