Inua Ellams' award-winning family drama about the friendship between an enslaved woman and her former mistress in pre-colonial Nigeria, directed by Roy Alexander Weise.
Inua Ellams brings Once Upon a Time in Sokoto to Warwick Arts Centre from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November, the play's run in Coventry. It's an award-winning family drama set in mid-to-late 1800s pre-colonial Nigeria, and it follows the unlikely friendship that grows between an enslaved woman and her former mistress against the backdrop of the Sokoto Caliphate, with the events leading to the creation of Nigeria unfolding around them. The production is directed by Roy Alexander Weise.
Ellams is a Nigeria-born poet, playwright and artist who's published four poetry collections and written plays including Barber Shop Chronicles, The 14th Tale and a retelling of Three Sisters. Once Upon a Time in Sokoto took the 2024 Alfred Fagon Award and was staged as the inaugural production of Touring Together, a nationwide touring initiative led by Fuel and China Plate in collaboration with venues including Leeds Playhouse, Brighton Dome, Oxford Playhouse, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Warwick Arts Centre, with National Lottery backing through Arts Council England. It's also part of HOME, a season exploring the idea of home, and One World Warwick, a celebration of the University of Warwick's global community.
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The show runs for 2 hours 25 minutes including an interval. There's a BSL interpreted performance on Thursday 5 November at 7.30pm. Tickets are £36 (£34) / £29.50 (£27.50), with students and under 26s paying £9.50 (Band B) and schools £9.50 per pupil (Band B). You'll find it at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, CV4 7FD.
