Once Upon a Time in Sokoto
- Lyric Hammersmith
- Booking details
- Booking from: Tuesday, 13 April 2027 Booking until: Saturday, 8 May 2027
Once Upon a Time in Sokoto description
About the Show
Once Upon a Time in Sokoto tells the story of an unlikely friendship between an enslaved woman and her former master. Faced with new enemies, the two overcome differences in faith, culture and heritage, in a family drama that moves through four decades of pre-colonial history leading up to the creation of Nigeria.
The play won the 2024 Alfred Fagon Award. Co-commissioned and developed by Fuel with the National Theatre, it premiered at Royal & Derngate, Northampton, in 2026 as the first production of the Touring Together initiative, and now receives its London premiere at the Lyric Hammersmith. Northants Uncovered described the script as "a major highlight, punctuating the stage with striking, painterly imagery".
Cast and Creatives
The play is written by Inua Ellams, whose work includes Barber Shop Chronicles and Three Sisters for Fuel and the National Theatre, The Half God of Rainfall and the Fringe First-winning The 14th Tale. It is directed by Roy Alexander Weise, joint artistic director of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester from 2019 to 2023, whose credits include Nine Night, The Hot Wing King and Master Harold and the Boys at the National Theatre.
Why You Should Watch It
An award-winning play that brings a rarely staged chapter of West African history to the stage through a story of friendship and faith. Book your tickets for its London premiere.
