Following a Stage Award winning run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a sold-out week at the Arcola in September, New Perspectives adaptation of the The Fishermen, Booker Prize-nominated novel by Chigozie Obioma will return to the Arcola for a two-week run.
Gbolahan Obisesan has adapted the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa’s major new voices, New Perspectives in association with HOME present Chigozie Obioma’s powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.
The Fishermen is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma. It was nominated for the 2015 Man Booker Prize, and was named a best book of the year by the Observer, the Economist, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Director Jack McNamara said, “After our sold out run a month ago we are thrilled for The Fishermen to be invited back to the Arcola, this time to their main space. Being able to perform this play for the Arcola’s uniquely diverse audiences felt like a homecoming for us. It’s a perfect environment for this story to take place and I am thrilled that so many more people will now have the chance to see it”
Gbolahan Obisesan is a director and Fringe First winning writer. His previous plays include an adaption of Pigeon English (Bristol Old Vic, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013) and the Fringe First winning Mad About the Boy (2011), and he was one of the six writers commissioned by the Royal Court and the Young Vic for Rufus Norris’ Feast. He recently held the role of Genesis Fellow/Associate Director at the Young Vic Theatre, previously directed the 2017 Olivier nominated Cuttin it (Young Vic, Birmingham Rep, Sheffield Crucible, Royal Court, Yard Theatre) and Off The Page, a short film for the Royal Court/Guardian’s microplays season.
The Fishermen is at The Arcola Theatre 20th November to 1st December 2018.
