Martin Portus critic joins stages to talk about Sydney Festival

Barber Shop Chronicles

For African men the world over, the barber shop is more than a place to get a shave and a haircut. It’s a place to hear news, share views and talk politics, women and sport. It’s a place where a man can let down his guard, blow off steam, and leave looking sharp and feeling reinvigorated. The Nigerian-born, UK-based poet, designer and playwright Inua Ellams imagines these buzzing spaces on stage in a fresh, funny, truth-telling play, direct from the National Theatre in London.

The audience visits barber shops in London, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra and Johannesburg to eavesdrop on individual problems, common obsessions, the complex legacies of colonialism and jokes without borders. This acclaimed production, directed by Bijan Sheibani and showcasing some of the finest acting talent in Britain, comes to Sydney direct from a successful UK run.

“★★★★★ Rich and exhilarating. A fascinating peek into the barber shop” The Stage