Inua Ellams'

The Spalding Suite

Show details

Directed by
Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu

Designed by
Amanda Mascarenhas

Lighting Design by
Benjamin Laws-Williams 

Sound Design by
Bella Kear 

Movement Direction by
Sean Hollands 

Assistant Direction by
Caroline Yu 

Voice Coaching by 
Joel Trill 

Venue
The Carne Studio Theatre

Dates
Wednesday 4 November at 7.45pm 
Thursday 5 November at 7.45pm 
Friday 6 November at 2.15pm and 7.45pm

Duration
1 hour

About the show

“When we were young, we worshipped stars 
gleaming long-limbed gods 
framed in the act of impossible flight” 

Poetry and physical theatre combine in Inua Ellam’s love letter to Britain’s basketball subculture. 

Delving into the lyricism of the game as well as the souls of the people who play it, The Spalding Suite follows five friends as they bond over the sport they love and the physical toll it takes on their bodies. 

The Spalding Suite features poetry by Inua Ellams, Bohdan Piasecki, Jacob Sam-La Rose, Roger Robinson, Nick Makoha and Nii Parkes. 

Born in Nigeria in 1984, Inua Ellams is an internationally touring poet, playwright, performer, graphic artist and designer. He is an ambassador for the Ministry of Stories and his published books of poetry include Candy Coated Unicorns and Converse All StarsThirteen Fairy Negro TalesThe Wire-Headed Heathen#Afterhours and The Half-God of Rainfall – an epic story in verse. His first play The 14th Tale was awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival and his fourth, Barber Shop Chronicles, sold out two runs at the National Theatre. He is currently touring An Evening With An Immigrant and completing his first full poetry collection The Actual. In graphic art and design, online and in print, he tries to mix the old with the new, juxtaposing texture and pigment with flat shades of colour and vector images. He lives and works from London, where he founded the Midnight Run, a nocturnal urban excursion. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. 

British-Ghanaian theatre-maker Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu work aims to bring the stretch the imagination of his audiences with his unique brand of storytelling. Previous work includes creating Sweet Like Chocolate Boy (Jack Studio and London tour) and directing the award-winning Little Baby Jesus (Orange Tree Theatre). 

Photos: Aaron Kelly

Cast

Yawo 
Niyi Akin

Archie
Alistair Nwachukwu

Jay
Kieran Taylor-Ford

Matt
Kené Chelo Ortiz

Tom
Andrew Krueger 

Technical crew

Production Manger
Molly Goodison 

Stage Manager
Gusta Matthews

Deputy Stage Manger
Amy Hill 

Assistant Stage Manager 
Harry Masters 

Chief LX
Jahmiko Marshall 

Deputy chief LX / Programmer
Vadim Wilkie 

Production Sound Engineer 
Sam Maslin 

Production Carpenter
Ruth Burgon

Deputy Production Carpenters
Emily Huxley
Sophie O’Neill
Tiago Stricker

Wardrobe Supervisor 
Molly Unthank

Wardrobe Supervisor 
Lydia Comer-Narroway