9 February - 23 March 2024
SAMUEL TAKES A BREAK ...IN MALE DUNGEON NO. 5 AFTER A LONG BUT GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL DAY OF TOURS
9 February - 23 March 2024
About
Welcome to Cape Coast Castle, Ghana.
It is the Year of Return, 2019.
Samuel is our tour guide. It’s his job to give tourists a really really authentic experience of the castle’s dark history, and to do it all with a smile. Good ol’ Samuel!
Orange is a ticket officer. She thinks Samuel needs to get a goddamn life. There has to be more to him beyond these castle walls.
Today is Samuel’s birthday! Happy birth—
“Do you ever want to hurt the tourists Samuel?"
No! They’re his guests, and they’re on a journey of self-discovery. But they’re here, standing on soil, blood and bones, asking for a selfie. They want to buy trinkets from the gift shop.
No. Samuel would never want to hurt the tourists.
And they would never want to hurt him.
A story about Samuel, Orange and their attempts to preserve the past.
From debut writer Rhianna Ilube (shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting and Soho Theatre’s Verity Bargate Award) and directed by The Yard Theatre’s Deputy Artistic Director Anthony Simpson-Pike (★★★★★ Beautiful Thing; Theatre Royal Stratford East/HOME, Olivier Award-Winning ★★★★★ The P Word; Bush Theatre, ★★★★★ Grenfell: In the Words of Survivors; National Theatre).
DATES & TIMES
9 February - 23 March
Monday - Saturday, 7:30pm
PREVIEWS*
Friday 9 February – Wednesday 14 February, 7:30pm
MATINEES
Every Saturday starting 17 February, 2:30pm
BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE (BSL) INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE
Thursday 29 February, 7:30pm
CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE
Thursday 7 March, 7:30pm
BLACK OUT PERFORMANCE
Wednesday 28 February, 7:30pm
RUNNING TIME
Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no interval.
*Previews are a set of public performances that take place before the official opening of a production. Tickets for these nights are sold at a reduced rate.
HOW TO BOOK
ONLINE
Just click the 'BOOK NOW' button to purchase tickets online. A £1.50 booking fee will apply.
BOX OFFICE
You can book tickets over the phone, call us at 07756734172, Monday to Thursdays, 10am-5.30pm. A £3 booking fee will apply
WAYS TO SAVE
Tickets start from £10.
YARD LOCAL
Locals get 30% off all tickets with a free Yard Local Card – sign up online.
NO EMPTY SEATS
If you’re aged 27 and under, you can get £5 tickets on the door to all performances that are not sold out with #NoEmptySeats.
CONCESSIONS
If you're aged 27 and under, 65+, a student or are unwaged, tickets are priced cheaper.
GROUP BOOKINGS
If you’d like to make a group booking (10+ tickets) please email marketing@theyardtheatre.co.uk
ACCESS & SUITABILITY
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
SUITABILITY
Recommended for ages 16+
CONTENT GUIDANCE
This show contains strobe lighting, and sudden loud sounds, and addresses themes involving violence, slavery and mental health.
More infoSupported by The Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, The Maria Bjornson Memorial Trust, and The Garrick Charitable Trust.
“It’s those wild swings from one extreme to the other that make this play so fresh and fascinating; its unpredictability, its seriousness of purpose and its lightness of touch in achieving it.”
“A hilarious but unflinching look. It’s an unmissable production that is sure to captivate.”
“Clever, thoughtful, confronting and daring theatre... I have a feeling it is a good year for The Yard Theatre.”
Cast & Team
cast
Fode Simbo
- Samuel
Bola Akeju
- Orange
Tori Allen-Martin
- Letty
Stefan Asante-Boateng
- Trev
Photography by Marc Brenner
team
EVENTS
Theatre
Black Out Night
28 February 2024
Samuel Takes A Break: Black Out Night is an evening programmed for an all-Black audience to collectively engage with the show. The night will also include a free post-show talk with writer Rhianna Ilube and director Anthony Simpson-Pike, hosted by Assistant Director Taiwo Oyebola.
Afterwards, we’d love for you to join us in our bar, where DJ Shafire will be playing a mixture of soulful classics and soft R&B to set the tone to keep the conversation going.
Nightlife
Samuel Takes A Break: Wrap Party
23 March 2024
Samuel Takes A Break: Wrap Party is an evening celebrating a ★★★★★ show, its team, and its audiences.
Samuel has done 10 tours a day for 46 days — that's 460 tours, 46 birthdays, and about 184 times telling us he loves his job. It's time for Samuel to Take a Break, officially. Right after his final tour, we'll be going all night featuring DJs Shafire, T-Rock and more, playing a mix of Amapiano, R&B, progressive soul, and hip-hop classics. All are welcome, and admission is free.