The Fishermen

How The Fishermen play came to be

The Fishermen is the winner of numerous prestigious awards. Considered a “classic tale of boyhood”, the novel powerfully depicts family and brotherly relations and the elements that surround them. Written by Chigozie Obioma, the story swept the literary scene away upon its release in 2015. It also became shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in the same year. Obioma, one of Africa’s prime writers, put detailed emphasis on the story, easily making it an excellent choice for a stage-worthy play. Gbolahan Obisesan is an award-winning British Nigerian writer, actor and director, who instantly constructed a seamless fable of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.

In 2015, Obisesan became a Fellow and Associate Director at the Young Vic Genesis. His plays have been nominated for an OffWestEnd Theatre Award, an Olivier Award, won a Jerwood Directors Award for “Best Play” and a Fringe First Award. The Fishermen play toured the UK, enjoying massive success and selling out the Arcola Theatre twice. It now plans to sell out at the Trafalgar Studios, for which you should book your tickets at the earliest since they are limited, and the show is in high demand.

A small insight into The Fishermen

Set in the 1990s, the story is a biblical parable about Nigeria under the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. The narrator is a nine-year-old boy – Benjamin. He is the youngest of four brothers. Their father serves the Central Bank of Nigeria and holds a progressive thought about life. He wants his sons to become successful. However, due to his transfer to another town, the boys become just like any other when left unsupervised. They fight with other boys, cause trouble with the neighbours and do as they please.

The Fishermen play becomes acutely intriguing when a village madman prophesies that the eldest, Ikenna, will be killed by one of his brothers. Tension builds when their mother is hospitalised, their father goes into depression, and the boys start losing their bond in the gravity of the prophecy. Lies, sadness and guilt tie the brothers together while also pushing them towards separation. Gradually, everything starts to break down while the family’s core burns from the inside, forcing them apart. So, what will happen to them? Will the prophecy turn out to be true or is there a happy ending lurking behind all the sorrow?

Fantastic visuals and superb acting

Inside Trafalgar Studios, you will find yourself glued to the seat while the play moves ahead. Flashing lighting effects throughout enhance the dramatic violence and acting capabilities, making The Fishermen play look like a live-action film. It runs for an hour and twenty minutes without breaks. Grab what you want from the in-house bar then enjoy the fantastic performances by the talented actors who bring the novel to life. Book your tickets today to avoid missing out on this amazing play.

Additional

• Show Information

  Leading Roles
  Michael Ajao
  Valentine Olukoga

  Directed by
  Jack McNamara

  Written by
  Chigozie Obioma

• Performance Times

  Monday to Saturday: 7:45 PM
  Thursday and Saturday: 3:00 PM

• How to get your tickets for The Fishermen

  You will receive email confirmation shortly after booking. Please display your voucher on your mobile phone along with valid photo ID. We recommend that you arrive at the theatre at least thirty minutes prior to the performance.

• Theatre Information

  Trafalgar Studios 2 has a seating capacity of 100. It has an in-house bar and is wheelchair accessible.

• Cancellation Policy

  Tickets cannot be cancelled, amended or rescheduled.