Hey ,
The Gift
Theatre Royal Stratford East, London
WED 29 JAN – SAT 15 FEB 2020
You're invited to the most unconventional of tea parties...
Next week, Stratford East welcomes the London premiere of Eclipse Theatre's new play THE GIFT, written by Janice Okoh and directed by Dawn Walton. Inspired by the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a West African girl of Yoruba descent ‘gifted’ to Queen Victoria, this is a subversive comedy drama about imperialism, cross-racial adoption, cultural appropriation... and tea.
In Victorian-era Brighton, young Sarah is preparing to return to Africa after being brought up under the Queen's royal guidance. Fast forward to the modern day and a black middle-class woman in Cheshire is visited by well-meaning neighbours with a confession to make.
Described by The Stage as "the company making strides in telling black Britain's lost stories", Eclipse’s previous productions include the sell-out production of Black Men Walking.
"Clever and complex vision of black Britons, then and now... full of sharp, stinging dialogue"
The Guardian, on The Gift
★★★★★
"An important, political, poignant work that dismantles stereotypes"
The Stage, on Black Men Walking
SPECIAL OFFER: get 20% off tickets to THE GIFT (Price Bands A & B) with promo code GIFT20.*
*Offer valid on standard tickets for performances between 02 - 08 Feb, excluding 04 Feb. Valid on Price Bands A and B only. Subject to availability. Offer can be revoked at any time.
