Inua Ellams award-winner to premiere at Leeds Playhouse

New nationwide collaboration Touring Together brings the world premiere of Inua Ellams’ award-winning Once Upon a Time in Sokoto to Leeds Playhouse later in the year (November 11-14).

The drama is the story of an unlikely friendship between a slave and her former owner. Differences in faith, culture and heritage are overcome in a family drama set against the backdrop of events leading to the creation of Nigeria.

The play has already won one prize, the Alfred Fagon Award, given since 1997 to the best new play of the year by a Black British UK playwright.

Leeds Playhouse artistic director Tom Wright said: “We’re delighted to welcome Inua Ellams back to the Playhouse.

"His previous collaboration with us, on Barber Shop Chronicles, was a powerful experience for our audiences, and this new work brings the same lyrical energy and bold ideas. Supporting playwrights and enabling ambitious new writing is central to what we are doing at Leeds Playhouse, which is why being part of Touring Together feels so important."

:: Touring Together is led by Birmingham-based producing studio China Plate and leading independent producer Fuel, and will produce and tour using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

The theatres involved are Brighton Dome, Leeds Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, the Royal and Derngate in Northampton and Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry.

More info and tickets here