Where: Performed in outdoor spaces across London
What is it?
In car parks, town squares and other outdoor spaces across the country, Inua Ellams transports audiences to a city not unlike London in a modern-day, magical realist tale of violence and gang culture. Following a sell-out run of Black T-shirt Collection at the National Theatre, Ellams’ new show Knight Watch combines soaring, lyrical poetry with a live soundtrack by Zashiki Warashi drum and flute duo (Aki Fujimoto and Mikey Kirkpatrick), to conjure a vivid portrait of a young man seeking a better way of life.
In a world where tower blocks are stone mountains and city walls are urban tapestries retelling epic fights, Michael keeps away from the warring tribes until a passerby helps him out of a tight situation. Instantly, he is pulled into the culture he has tried to escape. The city spirals out of control as battle lines are drawn and redrawn. In the quest for balance, loyalty, faith and friendships are tested, but will Michael succeed in ending the war?
Inua Ellams is a poet, writer, teacher, performer and graphic artist. Knight Watch follows a sell-out run of Black T-shirt Collection (2012) at the National Theatre and on tour.
Founded in 2004 and led by Louise Blackwell and Kate McGrath, Fuel is a producing organisation working with contemporary theatre artists to develop, create and present new work.
Catch Knight Watch at one of these places:
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival
23rd – 24th June at 7pm, visit festival.org and greenwichtheatre.org.uk or phone 020 8858775.
International Student Drama Festival, Sheffield
26th June at 11pm, visit nsdf.org.uk or phone 020 7036 0927.
Camden People’s Theatre
29th June at 6pm & 9pm, 30th June at 5pm & 9pm, visit cptheatre.co.uk or phone 08444 77 1000.
Almeida Festival, Spa Fields, Clerkenwell
2nd – 3rd July at 7.30pm, visit almeida.co.uk or phone 020 7359 4404.
Tara Theatre @ Coronation Gardens, Southfields
5th – 7th July at 9pm, visit tara-arts.com or phone 020 8333 4457.
Arcola Theatre at the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
10th July at 8pm, visit arcolatheatre.com or phone 020 7503 1646.
The Last Refuge, Peckham
11th July at 8pm, visit fueltheatre.com.
Latitude Festival, Southwold
Outdoor Theatre Stage
14th July at 3.30pm, visit latitudefestival.co.uk or phone 0870 060 3775.
Southbank Centre, Central London
22nd July at 8.30pm, visit southbankcentre.co.uk and phone 0844 847 9910.
Stockton International Riverside Festival
2nd – 3rd August, sirf.co.uk.
Live Theatre in association with NewcastleGateshead Bridges Festival
4th August at 7.30pm, 5th August at 7.30pm & 9pm, visit live.org.uk or phone 0191 232 1232.
The Albany at Deptford Lounge, Deptford
21st September at 8pm, visit thealbany.org.uk or phone 020 8692 444.
More info: Visit fueltheatre.com and inuaellams.com. To find out more about Inua Ellams read our interview here.