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Inua Ellams

Born: Nigeria

Biography

Born in Nigeria in 1984, Inua Ellams MBE FRSL is a writer and a curator. He is a cross disciplinary artist, an internationally touring performer, a poet, playwright, screenwriter, graphic artist and designer. His published books of poetry include Candy Coated Unicorns and Converse All Stars, Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales, The Wire-Headed Heathen, #Afterhours, and The Actual. His first play, The 14th Tale, was awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival. His plays include Barber Shop Chronicles, Three Sisters (after Chekov) and The Half-God of Rainfall among others.

Productions

Black T-shirt Collection

Black T-shirt Collection

Year: 2012

Staged in: Fuel Theatre

Fast Cuts and Snap Shots

Fast Cuts and Snap Shots

Year: 2014

Staged in: Fuel in partnership with Oran Mor and the National Theatre of Scotland

Barber Shop Chronicles

Barber Shop Chronicles

Year: 2017

Staged in: Co-production between National Theatre, Fuel and West Yorkshire Playhouse

Three Sisters

Three Sisters

Year: 2019

Staged in: National Theatre; 1963-

The Spalding Suite

The Spalding Suite

Year: 2015

Staged in: Co-production between Fuel, Southbank Centre adn Contact (Manchester)

Turned

Turned

Year: 2015

Untitled

Untitled

Year: 2010

Staged in: Fuel Theatre

14th Tale, The

14th Tale, The

Year: 2009

Staged in: Fuel Theatre

Tha Half God of Rainfall

Tha Half God of Rainfall

Year: 2019

Staged in: Birmingham Repertory Theatre; 1913, Kiln Theatre and Fuel

Publications

Black T-Shirt Collection

Black T-Shirt Collection

Year: 2012

Publisher: Oberon Books

Untitled

Untitled

Year: 2010

Publisher: Oberon Modern Plays

The 14th Tale

The 14th Tale

Year: 2009

Publisher: Flipped Eye Publishing Ltd

Inua Ellams: Plays One: The 14th Tale; Untitled; Knight Watch; Black T-Shirt Collection

Inua Ellams: Plays One: The 14th Tale; Untitled; Knight Watch; Black T-Shirt Collection

Year: 2019

Publisher: Oberon Modern Playwrights

Three Sisters

Three Sisters

Year: 2019

Publisher: Oberon Books

Barber Shop Chronicles

Barber Shop Chronicles

Year: 2021

Publisher: Methuen Drama

The Half God of Rainfall

The Half God of Rainfall

Year: 2019

Publisher: 4th Estate

Featured Content

Three women sit hunched over, holding each other in a grassy plain.

Sarah Niles (left) as Lolo, Natalie Simpson (middle) as Nne and Rachel Ofori (right) as Udo in Inua Ellams’ adaptation of Chekov’s Three Sisters, National Theatre, 2019. Photograph © The Other Richard.

Education Resource Pack

Anton Chekhov’s original story of Three Sisters is set in Russia, in the 19th century, during a time of upheaval. Inua Ellams’ adaptation is set in Nigeria in the 1960s, a country struggling with the legacy of colonialism. Independence brings the possibility of change but white Europeans are still in the background, pulling strings and reaping the benefits, nothing has changed. For key stages four and five. Access the Three Sisters Education Resource Pack here.

Inua Ellams and Nadia Fall discuss Barber Shop Chronicles

What is the theatre rehearsal process like? Inua Ellams and Nadia Fall (director) of Three Sisters at the National Theatre discuss.

Winsome Pinnock and Ola Animashawun discuss Barber Shop Chronicles

Watch Winsome Pinnock and dramaturg Ola Animashawun discuss Inua Ellam’s play Barber Shop Chronicles.

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