First Look: Nine Night at The National Theatre

Roy Alexander Weise directs Natasha Gordon’s debut play Nine Night is a touching and very funny exploration of the rituals of family.

Gloria is gravely sick. When her time comes, the celebration begins; the traditional Jamaican Nine Night Wake. But for Gloria’s children and grandchildren, marking her death with a party that lasts over a week is a test. Nine nights of music, food, sharing stories – and an endless parade of mourners.

Speaking about her play Natasha said, “When I wrote the play I was grappling with how grief moves through us, the importance for ritual and ceremony for some people, yet for others it’s a quieter, private observance that’s important. I experienced the tradition of Nine Night for the first time when my Grandmother passed away four years ago.  I was struck by the importance of the tradition for my Grandmother’s generation and for the people in my family that were born in Jamaica. This is the first time Roy and I are working together and I’m really looking forward to it, he’s a fantastic director and we have an amazing cast who are all so talented, I can’t wait.”

The cast includes Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Franc Ashman, Ricky Fearon, Michelle Greenidge, Hattie Ladbury, Rebekah Murrell and Cecilia Noble.

 

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1. NINE NIGHT by Natasha Gordon ; Directed by Roy Alexander Weise ; Set Design by Rajah Shakiry ; Lighting Design by Paule Constable ; National Theatre; Dorfman Theatre, London, UK ; 21 April 2018 ; Credit & Copyright: Helen Murray ;

Franc Ashman as Lorraine and Hattie Ladbury as Sophie in Nine Night at the National Theatre (c) Helen Murray-933

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2. NINE NIGHT by Natasha Gordon ; Directed by Roy Alexander Weise ; Set Design by Rajah Shakiry ; Lighting Design by Paule Constable ; National Theatre; Dorfman Theatre, London, UK ; 21 April 2018 ; Credit & Copyright: Helen Murray ;

Franc Ashman as Lorraine in Nine Night at the National Theatre (c) Helen Murray 204

3. NINE NIGHT by Natasha Gordon ; Directed by Roy Alexander Weise ; Set Design by Rajah Shakiry ; Lighting Design by Paule Constable ; National Theatre; Dorfman Theatre, London, UK ; 21 April 2018 ; Credit & Copyright: Helen Murray ;

Franc Ashman as Lorraine and Hattie Ladbury as Sophie in Nine Night at the National Theatre (c) Helen Murray 573

4. NINE NIGHT by Natasha Gordon ; Directed by Roy Alexander Weise ; Set Design by Rajah Shakiry ; Lighting Design by Paule Constable ; National Theatre; Dorfman Theatre, London, UK ; 21 April 2018 ; Credit & Copyright: Helen Murray ;

Cecilia Noble as Aunt Maggie and Ricky Fearon as Uncle Vince in Nine Night at the National Theatre (c) Helen Murray-1137

5. NINE NIGHT by Natasha Gordon ; Directed by Roy Alexander Weise ; Set Design by Rajah Shakiry ; Lighting Design by Paule Constable ; National Theatre; Dorfman Theatre, London, UK ; 21 April 2018 ; Credit & Copyright: Helen Murray ;

Cecilia Noble as Aunt Maggie and Ricky Fearon as Uncle Vince in Nine Night at the National Theatre (c) Helen Murray 195

6. NINE NIGHT by Natasha Gordon ; Directed by Roy Alexander Weise ; Set Design by Rajah Shakiry ; Lighting Design by Paule Constable ; National Theatre; Dorfman Theatre, London, UK ; 21 April 2018 ; Credit & Copyright: Helen Murray ;

Ricky Fearon as Uncle Vince in Nine Night at the National Theatre (c) Helen Murray-964