Writer Mojola Akinyemi returns with an exploratory and vibrant new play.
‘imaginary natural beings’ is a journey of self-exploration through an indifferent world. The Girl becomes a woman, The Boy becomes a man, and they both shape each other’s lives – or at least, that is how it is supposed to work. Within a fluid, deconstructed theatre space, the boundaries of character and actor become blurred. In a work inspired by contemporary poetry and absurdist theatre, ‘imaginary natural beings’ explores the nature of Blackness, womanhood, and coming-of-age in modern Britain.
The Girl, our Girl, is not alright. But she is trying to be. Let’s see how she does.
About the writer:
Mojola Akinyemi is a writer and director for stage and screen. Her debut play, ‘Great Mother - Iya Ayaba’ was long listed for the Mustapha Matura Award in 2021, and the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition in 2022. It ran successfully in Cambridge and in Curve Theatre, Leicester for the National Student Drama Festival in 2022. She was a member of the Royal Court Introductory Writer’s Programme for Autumn 2022, and is a current member of the Old Vic Theatremakers Programme for 2022/2023. She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in English. In her time there, she wrote and directed the short film ‘Ferret’, which won the Other Brother Film Fund, and premiered in June 2022. She is an alumni of the 2021 BFI x BAFTA Mentorship Program and a current mentee of the BFI x Lux Artists Programme. 'imaginary natural beings' is her second full-length play, and had a sold-out rehearsed reading for ‘A Pinch’ of VAULT in July 2022.
About the director:
Issy Snape is a director working in theatre and film from London. Her work has been shortlisted for the LET Award, performed at the National Theatre Connections Festival, Alchymy Festival and the National Student Drama Festival. Issy co-directed and co-wrote ‘Cicada 3301’, which performed to full audiences and critical acclaim at The Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe.
Playing at the iconic VAULT Festival, ‘imaginary natural beings’ is a piece of genre-shifting dynamic new writing which is unafraid to pose challenging questions to its audiences. The show will run for four nights only, on 24, 25, 26 and 27 January.
Written by: Mojola Akinyemi
Directed by: Issy Snape
Produced by: Maddy Chisholm-Scott
Designed by: Tara Kelly
Starring: Darcy Dixon, Jack Medlin, Genevieve Labuschagne, Annie Haworth and Adam Mirsky
Key information
Venue: Network Theatre, VAULT Festival, 246A Lower Road, Waterloo
Dates: Jan 24, 26, 27, 28 ONLY | 6.30pm
