Running With Lions

Catch Running With Lions at the Lyric Hammersmith This Spring

London’s West End is arguably the biggest hub of English theatre. Since its conception, the place dedicates itself to preserving the performing arts tradition. You will find classics and the world’s longest-running shows at some West End venue or the other at any given time of the year. It is, in a sense, a guardian of the culture, art, and heritage of England. At the same time, the West End encourages and lends its platform to budding talents who become next-generation legends. A true confluence of these two traditions could be found in the upcoming play Running With Lions. 

Produced and performed by the legendary Talawa Theatre Company, this new play is written by another emerging star, playwright Sian Carter. Talawa Theatre Company has had a long legacy of producing black British theatre since its foundation in 1986. This iconic theatre company’s core is all about acing classic play representations and developing brand-new writing and acting talents. But most importantly, it is all about celebrating the Black British Community and African and Caribbean diaspora in England. On the other hand, Sian Carter is an emerging playwright who displays immense potential with her unique style of storytelling and the guts to grapple with important issues such as mental health, race, discrimination, and diversity. Together, they present this brilliant play which is expected to give you some food for thought. 

A Tale of Love, Loss, and Hope

Running With Lions is a deeply moving tale of a family. It talks about love, loss, despair, and the strength to rise above all the adversities together. The story revolves around a Black British family of African origin. Following the death of a loved one, the family struggles to come to terms with their grief. While they try to emerge from the sorrow, deep down they all are fighting alone to grapple with cultural beliefs nurtured for centuries, challenges to faith, and unsettling blows to mental health. They precariously live between things they do and don’t say. It is a thought-provoking journey of people connected by the love for the family but separated by their inner demons. As they strive to come together after a great loss, they gradually rediscover love and joy in the process. 

A Dazzling Cast

Running With Lions marks the debut of brilliant young playwright Sian Carter. This sensational new play will be directed by Michael Buffong, the legendary artistic director of Talawa Theater Company known for incredible productions such as King Lear, Guys & Dolls, and All My Sons. The cast will feature Ruby Barker, the beautiful actress of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, along with Suzette Llewellyn, Wil Johnson, and Velile Tshabalala.

If you are one of those who love watching a show that has a lingering impact long after you leave the theatre, do not miss this one. The play will run for a strictly limited time. Order your tickets now.

Additional

• Accessibility

  There will be an open-captioned performance on 26th February at 2.30 PM.

  There will be an audio described performance on 26th February at 7.30 PM.