THE HALF GOD OF RAINFALL

Kiln TheatreFuel and Birmingham Repertory Theatre present

The Half God of Rainfall

by Inua Ellams

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We risk war. This is the consequence. Battle. Shield. Spear and sword. Conflict amongst the Gods. This must be avoided.

When Demi, the half Nigerian-mortal, half Greek-God, is angry, rain clouds gather. When he cries, rivers burst their banks.

The first time Demi takes a shot on the local basketball court, the deities of the land awaken. As he unknowingly sparks Zeus’ wrath, his mother Modupe takes matters into her mortal hands and the consequences change their lives forever.

From award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams (Barber Shop ChroniclesAn Evening With An Immigrant) comes a new myth.  The Half God of Rainfall is a contemporary epic that weaves poetry and storytelling in a majestic journey that transports us from a tiny village in South West Nigeria to Mount Olympus, to the further reaches of our galaxy and beyond.

Important Information

Age Recommendation 14+

Content Warning

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Duration

80 mins (with no interval)

The power of the production lies not in theatrical ostentation, but in its fierce, unadorned precision.

- The Guardian

It works on the senses as much as the intellect, and leaves you in stunned wonderment.

- The Times

Beautifully directed by Nancy Medina… with superb actors Rakie Ayola and Kwami Odoom

- The Daily Telegraph

This is vital theatre: funny, moving, unflinching.

- The Sunday Times

Richly lyrical tone and warm humour

- Evening Standard

Powerful performances… Incredible skill… Exquisite writing

- Time Out

It’s a story for these ‘woke’ times – the #MeToo campaign a continual backdrop.

- WhatsOnStage

Beguiling and audacious… dazzlingly brought to life by actors Rakie Ayola and Kwami Odoom in Nancy Medina’s fleet-footed production

- Financial Times

A skilfully crafted, magical folktale; one that will certainly stand the test of time

- Spy In The Stalls

A powerful piece of theatre which takes you to realms that you would never expect

- A Younger Theatre

Sublime tribute to the African art of storytelling

- The Stage

An inspiring evening

- The Arts Desk

An exciting watch from start to finish

- Broadway World

Praise For The Half God Of Rainfall

‘A world-beating exploration of mythology, power and sport, all stitched together by the unique and wonderful pen of Inua Ellams, a master craftsman in storytelling’

– Nikesh Shukla

‘If you love the swish of draining rain, you’ll love The Half God of Rainfall. Ellams creates a fresh flood of three-pointers and a Herculean dunk. The gravity of his message is as deep as a sunk shot from half-court’

– Peter Khan

‘Inua Ellams possesses an intuitive and fluid grasp of the eternal virtues and heroic narratives that constitute our transglobal imaginations’

– Major Jackson

‘Part Homeric-style epic, part female-focused revenge tragedy. Each line feels as though it’s carved into stone―solid, striking, glinting with beauty, but steeped in hard-edged truth. A true story for the ages, as well as for the politics of the present day’

– Bridget Minamore

‘Inua writes in brimstone and beautiful’

– William Augustus Chase

 

 

Creatives

Max Johns

Designer

Imogen Knight

Movement Director

Jackie Shemesh

Lighting Designer

Tanuja Amarasuriya

Sound Designer

Briony Barnett CDG

Casting Director

Fuel acknowledges the support of Cockayne Grants for the Arts and London Community Fund for the contribution towards Inua Ellams’ commission.

Dates and Tickets

TICKETS

25 April – 29 April & Wednesday matinees
£10, £15, £21, £27.50

30 April – 17 May (excluding Wednesday matinees)
£12.50, £20, £26, £32.50

Evenings: 7.30pm
Wednesday & Saturday matinees (from 4 May): 2.30pm

CONCESSIONS

Student, Equity & Unemployed & Brent Residents
£2 off Band A and B on Mon – Thu Performances

Brent & Residents
£2 off Band A and B on all performances

Seniors
£2 off Band A and B on Mon – Wed Matinee Performances

Access Concessions
£2 off all price bands on Mon – Thu Performances

Young Kiln (under 26)
£10 tickets across the run, any seat. To book your tickets sign up as Young Kiln or log in to your account

ACCESS

Captioned: 9 May 2019
Audio Described: 16 May 2019

Pre-show touch-tour before the Audio Described performance on 16 May at 6pm

POST-SHOW EVENTS

3 May – Young Kiln Open Mic Night
Join us after the show for ‘WorkinOnIt’ a open-mic event hosted by Mr Gee (Radio 4) including a performance from Deanna Rodger and music by Deuxes.

7 May – Inua Ellams Post Show Talk and Book Signing 
Kiln Theatre artistic director Indhu Rubasingham hosts a post-show Q&A with Inua Ellams

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