"You’d be mad to miss." British Vogue
"Ingenious." ★★★★ The Guardian
"A triumph." ★★★★ The Stage
Following a sell-out world premiere in 2021, ★★★★ SAMSKARA returns.
WHEN I LOOK AT YOU, WHEN OUR EYES CONNECT?
I HAVE TO PROTECT, TO HOLD ON TO SOMETHING,
’CAUSE THERE’S TOO MUCH TO FEEL.
Four generations of Black men are trying to understand themselves in a world that tells them that they have to be strong. They tell their stories, their bodies intertwine, they move for themselves and for one another.
Inspired by real-life testimonies, SAMSKARA is an explosive fusion of movement, hip-hop dance and text; an exploration of Black masculinity, vulnerability, and the cycles of fatherhood.
Moving through joy and suffering, laughter and longing, this soul-baring odyssey by award-winning artist Lanre Malaolu is an ode to what it means to be a Black man in Britain today.
Commissioned by The Yard Theatre.
DATES AND TIMES
27 June-23 July, 8pm
Preview Performances*:
27 June, 8pm
28 June, 8pm
29 June, 8pm
*Previews are a set of public performances that take place before its official opening. Tickets for these nights are sold at a reduced rate.
Captioned Performances:
21 July, 8pm
22 July, 7.30pm
100 Black Men:
15 July, 7.30pm
22 July, 7.30pm (captioned)
The Black Banquet (for the Black community):
1 July, 10pm (after the performance of SAMSKARA)
The Banquet (for everyone):
7 July, 10pm (after the performance of SAMSKARA)
Running time:
approximately 90 minutes (may be subject to change)
WAYS TO SAVE
Tickets start from £10. Prices increase as the theatre fills – the earlier you book the cheaper it will be.
Locals get 30% off all tickets with a free Yard Local Card – sign up online here.
If you’re aged 26 and under you can get £5 tickets on the door to all performances that are not sold out with #NoEmptySeats.
ACCESS
Access tickets are priced as concessions and can be booked online. We offer free tickets for companions and these must be booked by emailing marketing@theyardtheatre.co.uk.
CONTENT ADVISORIES
Age Guidance: 12+
We will update this as the show continues to be made.
100 BLACK MEN | 15 & 22 July
100 Black Men is a performance where the people in the audience for SAMSKARA will be Black men.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
THE BLACK BANQUET | 1 JULY
(For the Black community)
THE BANQUET | 7 JULY
(For everyone)
CAST
Paaliba Abugre | Silent Man
Will Atiomo | Father
Cal-I Jonel | Wisdom
Ntonga Mwanza | Young Buck
Razak Osman | Older
Demba Sow | Drummer
CREATIVE + PRODUCTION TEAM
Lanre Malaolu | Writer, Director, Choreographer
Ali Hunter | Lighting Designer
Jan Baranowski | Composer + Sound Designer
Demba Sow | Drummer + Additional Music/Composition
Anthony Simpson-Pike | Dramaturg
Natalie Pryce | Associate Designer
Rochea Dyer | Assistant Chereographer
Kirk-Ann Roberts | Assistant Director
Wabriya King | Production Dramatherapist
Artwork photography by Camilla Greenwell
The Yard would like to acknowledge the support of Jerwood Arts, East London Dance, Battersea Arts Centre and The Society for Theatre Research in the early development and presentations of SAMSKARA.