Barber Shop Chronicles with National Theatre at Home

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Barber Shop Chronicles with National Theatre at Home
Image courtesy of Marc Brenner.

14 — 21 May 2020 Entrance is free — Visit now

Following two sell-out runs at the National Theatre, a world tour, and a critically acclaimed run at the Royal Exchange, Inua Ellams’ acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles is now available to watch through National Theatre at Home.

For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops to put the world to rights. They have hair cuts, sometimes they listen and usually they talk. Newsroom, political platform, confessional booth, preacher pulpit and local meeting point – barber shops provide a place for barbed banter and telling truths. A place to visit for unofficial advice, and to keep in touch with the world.

Charting global dialogues and dynamic goings-on, Ellams’ Barber Shop Chronicles travels from a barber shop in South London to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra. This vibrant production takes audiences into a male world of politics and ritual, putting lives on stage which have not been seen there before.

Set in the round and directed by Bijan Sheibani, Barber Shop Chronicles centres around the troubled relationship between Emmanuel, the owner of Three Kings barbershop and Samuel, who is also a barber and the son of Emmanuel’s oldest friend. There’s plenty simmering under the surface with Sam believing that his dad was wrongfully driven out of the business. Sam’s resentment builds against the compassionate Emmanuel revealing climactic revelations for the audience.

Soulful and life-affirming; hilarious and heart-warming, Barber Shop Chronicles tackles black masculinity and men’s mental health and hints at the rich and nuanced canvas of black male experience. Through Barber Shop Chronicles Ellam depicts real African men, and men he has actually met and in doing so shines a light on the plethora of voices and different types of men who are not visible or heard in theatres, television and radio.

14 — 21 May 2020 Entrance is free Visit now

Where to go near Barber Shop Chronicles with National Theatre at Home

Gallery
Leeds
Gallery
BLANK_

BLANK_is a Leeds-based gallery, run by the School of Creative Arts at University Centre Leeds. It encompasses a physical exhibition space and a publication that showcases new contemporary visual art…

Chancellors Hotel is a Grade II listed Victorian mansion located in South Manchester surrounded by five acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, in a relaxed, scenic and picturesque setting.
Manchester
Hotel
Chancellors Hotel

Chancellors Hotel is a Grade II listed Victorian mansion located in South Manchester surrounded by five acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, in a relaxed, scenic and picturesque setting.

Kōdo Entrance
City Centre
Restaurant
Kōdo

Kōdo, a secret bar like no other. It is all about discovery. The only way to enter is with a special code, which changes weekly.

MediaCityUK
Café or Coffee Shop
Blanconero

High-level Italian food in Salford Quays, with no less than seven different lasagnas to choose from.

Yoga classes for all levels and aims.
Leeds
Yoga Hero

Yoga Hero offers various classes, including within their studio and online for all levels and all aims.

What's on: Theatre

Culture Guides

NEXT: A Primer on Urban Painting production still
Cinema in the North

Street art, LGBTQ+ History Month, and the first film festivals of the year are amongst our cinema highlights this month.

Good Fridaze Family Social at Freight Island
Family things to do in the North

As we edge towards spring we take a look at the best events and activities for families, from theatre to festivals, dinosaur adventures to family raves.

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of  washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.

Poet Evan Jones
Literature Events in the North

Some of our favourite leftfield live literature regulars are back with their first events of the year – we’ve picked a weird and wonderful heap we think you’ll love.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Feminist farce, a magical circus show and Oldham Coliseum return with a brand-new off-site show. All in our latest theatre guide.

FKA TWIGS
Music in the North

Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in our latest live music round up.