We Need New Names stage adaptation to premiere at Brixton House before tour

A stage adaptation of NoViolet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names is to make its premiere this year.

The novel was nominated for the Booker Prize in 2013, a first for a Zimbabwean and a Black African woman, and has been adapted for stage by fellow Zimbabwean Mufaro Makubika (SHEBEEN, Alfred Fagon Award winner).

We Need New Names will be performed by a six-strong cast, marking a first time collaboration between East Midlands’ companies Fifth Word and New Perspectives, following on from New Perspectives’ Stage Award and Black British Theatre award winning adaptation of Chigozie Obioma’s The Fishermen.

Paradise. Home of 10-year-old Darling and her friends: four children on the edge of innocence. A playground overflowing with mischief and games where they imagine countries a luxurious life away from theirs in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. But when Darling moves to Michigan, the western world she encounters as a teenager is far from the American utopia of her dreams…

Those on the cast include Lukwesa Mwamba (as Darling), Munashe Chirisa, Anashe Danai and Kalungi Ssebandeke.

It is directed by Directed by Monique Touko with design by Ingrid Hu, lighting by Adam King, music by Tendai Humphrey Sitima, sound by Ed Lewis and movement by Ricardo Da Silva.

The production opens at Brixton House (28 April – 6 May) before touring to Oxford, Derby, Manchester, Newcastle, Peterborough, Bristol, Sheffield and finishing in New Perspective’s home city Nottingham (9 – 10 June)

New Perspectives Artistic Director Angharad Jones said: “This adaptation combines New Perspectives’ history of successful commissioning adaptations including, most recently, The Fishermen, and Fifth Word’s specialism in developing new plays. Mufaro is a brilliantly talented playwright based in our home City of Nottingham, and it’s been a privilege to support him to tell this story to audiences on stages across the UK.”

Fifth Word Artistic Director Laura Ford continued: “Fifth Word are delighted to have commissioned Mufaro to develop the stage adaptation of this beautiful and powerful novel by NoViolet. During the development process we’ve had the privilege of working with Zimbabwean-born residents across the UK, all of whom can relate closely to this story from different generational viewpoints.

“It speaks to so many experiences, across the generations, of migration, trying to find your identity and trying to work out where you belong. I’m so excited to see this deeply moving play come to fruition and tour to theatres across the UK, reaching audiences from a wide range of backgrounds”.

Mufaro Makubika added: “When I first read the novel I couldn’t put it down. I instantly recognised the world NoViolet Bulawayo creates and felt an urgency to adapt this impactful and beautiful story into a play. I’m excited to help share We Need New Names on stage for the first time and hope it resonates with audiences across the UK.”

For more information, tour dates and tickets, visit newperspectives.co.uk