Award-winning play Until The Flood by Pulitzer Prize nominee Dael Orlandersmith (Yellowman, Forever, The Gimmick) will be released in audio for the first time exclusively on Audible, it has been revealed today.
Released on 15th May 2020 and performed by the acclaimed playwright herself, Until The Flood was awarded The Stage Edinburgh Award and The Scotsman Fringe First Award in 2019. Until The Flood is available for pre-order on Audible now here.
Inspired by extensive interviews following the 2014 shooting of black teenager, Michael Brown, by white police officer, Darren Wilson, Orlandersmith gives equal voice and embodies the many faces of a community haunted by injustice, in a country yearning for change.
Until The Flood is a tour de force solo performance that explores the dark forces of American history, race and politics that exploded in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, and sent shock waves across the nation.
Abigail Gonda, commissioning for theatre at Audible said: “During this time when audiences cannot gather together for live performances, Audible Theatre is thrilled to bring Until The Flood to listeners across the world. Dael Orlandersmith’s virtuosic performance joins Audible’s growing collection of theatrical storytelling.”
Playwright Dael Orlandersmith said, “I was excited about having a play performed for the ear. What does that sound like when you’re in a room without watching a person? My hope is that this production allows the listener to close their eyes and see the people who’ve inspired the play. I love the voice, I remember listening to Orson Welles’ War Of The Worlds, listening to Ruth Draper, listening to Paul Scofield, hearing how a voice can transcend, how it can take you to another place. Imagine, listening to Welles and thinking the world was coming to an end – that’s a great actor, to do that with a human voice, my god that’s amazing. I had the most amazing time in the studio, I’d love to do it again.”
The stage production of Until The Flood was commissioned by the Repertory Theatre of St Louis and directed by Neel Keller. Sound Design and Original Music by Justin Ellington. Produced by the Arcola Theatre, London, United Kingdom in 2019.
Until The Flood will join a wealth of world-class productions available on Audible Theatre, including: True West performed by Kit Harington and Johnny Flynn; Girls and Boys performed by Carey Mulligan; Radio performed by Adam Gillen; Iphigenia In Splott performed by Sophie Melville; Sakina’s Restaurant written and performed by Aasif Mandvi; and Harry Clarke starring Billy Crudup and David Cale.
