Folklore ties us back to our ancestral roots, narratives that effortlessly incorporate the lands they were birthed in and carry with them profound messages. The tale of Eze and the Kola Nut Tree within the Igbo (eebo) language native to Nigeria, West Africa one that ties those of the Nigerian diaspora, in particular Igbo to their horticultural roots. Initially debuting at the 2020 VAULT Festival, Tania Nwachukwu‘s The Kola Nut Does Not Speak English embraces what it means to be connected to one’s familial home yet embrace their UK heritage.
Courtesy of Ali Wright.
The third text in a trilogy of Theban plays written by Sophocles, Antigone proceeds from the aftermath of the Thebes’ civil war, a war that would consequentially witness the deaths of brothers Eteocles and Polynices – two powerful forces leading opposite sides of combat. Eteocles honoured, Polynices shamed by the newly crowned king of Thebes, Creon. Exploring the Ancient Greek text further in a newly adapted production by Merlynn Tong, with direction by Dawn Walton OBE, performer Wendy Kweh talks about taking on the role of Creon, a role traditionally played by a male. Ahead of the production at the Mercury Theatre, Wendy tells us more about what to expect.