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

The first production images have today been released for Nancy Medina’s world premiere of Inua Ellams’ latest play The Half God of Rainfall. The production plays at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre April 13th – 20th and Kiln Theatre in London April 25th – May 17th.

Rakie Ayola (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) plays Modupe, mother to her half-god son Demi, played by Kwami Odoom (Barber Shop Chronicles). This world premiere production is directed by Nancy Medina, designed by Max Johns, with movement direction by Imogen Knight, sound design by Tanuja Amarasuriya, lighting design by Jackie Shemesh and casting by Briony Barnett.

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 Chronicles; An 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.

This production is a collaboration between Kiln Theatre, Fuel and Birmingham Repertory Theatre and is Ellams’ next play since Barber Shop Chronicles.

The Half God of Rainfall
By Inua Ellams
Supported by London Community Foundation & Cockayne - Grants for the Arts.
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
13 April – 20 April 2019
7.45pm (except 16 April at 7pm)
Press night: 16 April
Tickets: From £15
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
0121 236 4455

Kiln Theatre
25 April - 17 May 2019
7.30pm / 2.30pm (Wednesday and Saturday)
Press night: 30 April
Tickets: From £10
www.kilntheatre.com
020 7328 1000

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