The Royal Exchange Theatre and Contact present a co-production between Fuel, the National Theatre and Leeds Playhouse
Barber Shop Chronicles
★★★★★ Upstaged Manchester ★★★★ The Nubian Times ★★★★ The GM Reviewer ★★★★ North West End ★★★★ Upstage Reviews
- 7 March 2019 - 23 March 2019
- The Theatre
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One day. Six cities. A thousand stories.
For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops. Sometimes they have haircuts, sometimes they listen, more often than not they talk. Barber shops are confession boxes, political platforms, preacher-pulpits and football pitches... places to go for unofficial advice, and to keep in touch with the world.
Fuel has produced Inua Ellams’ work for theatre since his debut play nine years ago. Barber Shop Chronicles is a heart-warming, hilarious and insightful play, set in Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra and London. The play invites the audience into a uniquely masculine environment where the banter may be barbed, but the truth always telling.
The barbers of these tales are sages, role models and father figures, they are the glue that keeps men together.
★★★★'This wonderful new play is a revelation' The Times (National Theatre 2017)
Co-commissioned by Fuel and the National Theatre. Development funded by Arts Council England with the support of Fuel, National Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, The Binks Trust, British Council ZA, Òran Mór and A Play, a Pie and a Pint.
- Event Information
VENUE: The Theatre
PERFORMANCE DATES: Thursday 7 March - Saturday 23 March 2019
PERFORMANCE TIMES: Matinees, 2.30pm / Evenings, 7.30pm.
View all times & datesTICKET INFORMATION: Standard Tickets from £18.50
View all ticket pricesAGE RECOMMENDATION: 12+
RUNNING TIME: 1 hours and 45 minutes, no interval.
BOOK TICKETS: Book Online or call the Box Office on 0161 833 9833
Members get Priority Booking for each season as well as for additional events. You can find out about Membership here.
With your support, we can make brilliant theatre, tell stories, nurture new talent, and help as many people as possible get involved.
- Creative Team
WRITER Inua Ellams
DIRECTOR Bijan Sheibani
DESIGNER Rae Smith
SOUND DESIGNER Gareth Fry
LIGHTING DESIGNER Jack Knowles
CHOREOGRAPHER Aline David
CASTING Louis Hammond CDG
BSL INTERPRETER Alex Macdonald
- Related Events
MEMBERS Q&A
Join the cast of BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES in a Q&A
Friday 15 March, 12.30pm - 1.30pm
Tickets £5 - for members only
Book Tickets: 0161 833 9833 / online
More Information about becoming a memberPOST-SHOW DISCUSSION
Tuesday 12 March, following 7.30pm show.
No need to book tickets for the discussion.
Book tickets to the performanceTHEATRE CLUB
Like an informal, friendly book club, but for plays
Saturday 23 March, 4.30pm - 7.00pm
Tickets are free but please book a place.
Book Tickets: 0161 833 9833 / online
More Information about Theatre Club- Accessible Performances
If you require our BSL, Audio Described or Captioned services, please book directly with Box Office. This is because there are often specific seats, which are held for each show to ensure you have the best experience possible.
You can call on 0161 833 9833 or email at box.office@royalexchange.co.uk
AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE: Saturday 23 March, 2.30pm
BSL PERFORMANCE: Friday 15 March, 7.30pm. Interpreter Alex Macdonald
CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE: Friday 22 March, 7.30pm
RELAXED PERFORMANCE: Tuesday 19 March, 2.30pm BOOK TICKETS
Click here for more information about our accessible performances
PLEASE NOTE - if a performance is marked as SOLD OUT - there may still be access seats available - so do get in touch.
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Winston/ Shoni
Michael Balogan
Kwame/ Fabrice/ Brian
Tobi Bamtefa
Musa/ Andile/ Mensah
Maynard Eziashi
Olawale/ Wole/ Kwabena/ Simon
Adé Dee Haastrup
Tokunbo/ Paul/ Simphiwe
Emmanuel Ighodaro
Wallace/ Timothy/ Mohammed/ Tinashe
Demmy Ladipo
Samuel
Mohammed Mansaray
Tanaka/ Fifi
Rudolphe Mdlongwa
Ethan
Elander Moore
Emmanuel
Anthony Ofoegbu
Elnathan/ Ensemble
Jo Servi
Abram/ Ohene/ Sizwe
David Webber
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★★★★★ "Perceptive and flying free from political correctness, Ellams’ dialogue is sharp and laugh-out-loud funny." Kristy Stott, Upstaged Manchester
★★★★★ "Barber Shop Chronicles is electric and will fuel your body with emotion for days" Jess Stoddard, Jess's Random World
★★★★ "An outstanding evening of entertainment casting an intriguing light on how a seemingly ordinary business function serves such an extraordinary purpose." The GM Reviewer
★★★★ "Never falling into momentary lulls, the acting is consistently engaging with a balance of up-beat dancing, relaxed and reflective conversations, before all crescendos into an intense soliloquy about what it means to be a strong black man and fatherhood." The Nubian Times
★★★★ "The striking choreography of Kwami Odoom, using skidding barber’s chairs and flapping capes created colour and beauty, played out against an eclectic mix of musical styles from London to Johannesburg. It made for an intoxicating spectacle." Paul Wilcox, North West End
★★★★ "a superbly well-constructed and entertaining production, cut and styled to near perfection." Matt Barton, Upstage Reviews
"It's a wonderful piece of theatre that can be both joyful and dark; both entertaining and deeply thoughtful about important issues." David Chadderton, British Theatre Guide
"Never have I been so sure I would adore a production simply from the pre-set. The music and atmosphere on stage was electric" Anuli Changa, The Mancunion
"Brilliantly funny, visually electric and positively fizzing with energy" Caroline Steiner, Unrestricted views
