What’s On in Theatre in June

To Kill a Mockingbird by Aaron Sorkin
From 10 March – 19 November – Gielgud Theatre

“To Kill A Mockingbird is adapted by Aaron Sorkin, and based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-winning novel. Set in Maycomb, Alabama in 1934, To Kill a Mockingbird has provided American literature with some of its most indelible characters: lawyer Atticus Finch, the tragically wronged Tom Robinson, Atticus’ daughter Scout, her brother Jem, their housekeeper and caretaker Calpurnia and the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley.

The story follows young Scout and her father Atticus Finch, a lawyer tasked with defending a local, Tom Robinson, who is accused of rape. The novel explores justice and racial tension in a small Southern town, and is one of the best-selling novels of all-time selling more than 45 million copies of the novel worldwide.”

Jitney by August Wilson
09 June – 09 July – The Old Vic

“Jim Becker and his unlicensed drivers take the people of Pittsburgh Hill District where regular taxi cabs won’t – healing old wounds and tearing new ones as they pass the time in a condemned taxi rank between pick-ups.

Directed by Tinuke Craig (The Color Purple) and following an acclaimed run at Leeds Playhouse, August Wilson’s (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) groundbreaking modern classic explores the fragile bond between eight men as they live, love and work in a racially segregated, post-Vietnam America.”

Foxes by Dexter Flanders
03 May – 11 June – Seven Dials Playhouse

“Disrupting beliefs and morals, and tearing the foundations of family apart, Foxes explores the complexities of sexual identity and the impact unleashing your true self can have on those around you.

What is the ultimate sacrifice when societal pressures of religious doctrine and male standards collide with a liberal lifestyle? This fierce debut, shortlisted for the Alfred Fagen Award, shines a light on queerness within London’s Caribbean Community. When one kiss has the power to destroy everything, one young black man struggles to keep up. Drawn from experiences close to home, Flanders’ portrait of tormented masculinity and homosexuality is a detailed exploration into the cultural clash between upbringing and identity.”

Bangers by Danusia Samal
14 June – 2 July – Soho Theatre

“It’s club night and the tracks are spinning. Two headliners crossfade between stories of love, sex, and losing their creative spark – set against a backdrop of precarious lives in urban London – as an ever-present DJ shapes their lives with banger after banger.

Cardboard Citizens presents this new play from Danusia Samal, who stars as Aria, alongside Darragh Hand as Clef and Duramaney Kamara as the DJ. Featuring original tracks inspired by early noughties and present-day R&B and Garage, Bangers follows the highs and lows of two strangers as they struggle with their own pasts, while hurtling towards each other’s futures.

All the while, the DJ continues to play, dropping samples and words of wisdom. After all, it’s not about the last track but the one coming next that counts.”

Nine Night by Natasha Gordon
15 June – 25 June – Tower Theatre

““Three things you don’t mess with when it comes to Jamaicans. Their money, their food and their traditions.”

When Gloria’s time comes, the traditional Nine Night rituals begins. With food, drinks, music, laughter and memories, the people in her life come together across generations and continents to celebrate her. But nine nights of party don’t ease the complexities of this family’s dynamics.

Natasha Gordon’s debut play has been described as “a touching and very funny exploration of the rituals of family.” Intrinsically specific in its cultural references to Jamaican traditions, it touches on universal experiences of families dealing with death and talks about grief, love, exposed secrets and greed. Nine Night is also a play about migrants’ eternal struggle to define themselves.

It enjoyed a stunning sold-out run at the National Theatre in April 2018 before transferring to Trafalgar Studios, making Natasha Gordon the first black British female playwright to be produced in the West End.”

The Fellowship by Roy Williams
17 June – 22 July – Hampstead Theatre

“Children of the Windrush generation, sisters Dawn and Marcia Adams grew up in 1980s London and were activists on the front line against the multiple injustices of that time. Decades on, they find they have little in common beyond family…

Dawn struggles to care for their dying mother, whilst her one surviving son is drifting away from her. Meanwhile, high-flying lawyer Marcia’s affair with a married politician might be about to explode and destroy her career.

Can the Adams sisters navigate the turmoil that lies ahead, leave the past behind, and seize the future with the bond between them still intact?”

Check out the GUAP Arts & Culture section, to discover new art, film, and creative individuals.