Shifters
Duke of York's Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 12 October 2024
- Running time: 1hr 40min. No Interval.
Shifters photos
Shifters description
Do you believe in fate? The Bush Theatre's sell-out production of Shifters, Benedict Lombe's vibrant new romance, is transferring to the West End this summer. A vivid exploration of true love, it’s the perfect play for everyone who enjoys powerful contemporary theatre with romance at its heart.
So do you remember your first love? Have you forgotten or are the old memories still strong? This bittersweet play full of emotion, confusion and passion is memorable because it’s exceptional, but also because most of us have felt these feelings. We know this story.
Shifters is writer Benedicte Lombe’s follow-up to Lava, the dazzling Susan Blackburn Prize-winning play that wowed audiences at the Bush Theatre in 2021. Expect sparks to fly and past emotions to merge with ‘now’ in her second play exploring the power of first love.
The talent behind the romance
The stars of the two-person show are Heather Agyepong (School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play) and Tosin Cole (Supacell, BBC TV’s Doctor Who). The drama is written by Benedict Lombe and directed by Evening Standard Theatre Award-winning Lynette Linton, who gave us Blues for an Alabama Sky and August in England.
The creative team includes set and costume design by Alex Berry, lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Tony Gayle, music composition by Xana, and movement and intimacy direction by Shelley Maxwell. Production dramaturg Deirdre O’Halloran and voice coach Joel Trill are joined by Heather Basten, who cast the production. The producers are Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Chuchu Nwagu Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions.
The plot
Dre and Des met at school, two talented people with dreams. They fall in love, then they’re split apart. When Des comes home from the USA to visit they meet up and the old feelings are still there. Their old electricity climbs back to the surface but is it enough to keep Des from leaving again?
The simple set leaves space for the big feelings playing out against it, the flashing strip lights help you keep hold of the shifting timeline, and the action itself is nuanced and soulful, packed with fiery romance.
Starring
Heather Agyepong, Tosin Cole
Playing at Duke of York's Theatre
Age restrictions
Ages 12+.
Important information
Latecomers may not be admitted. It will not be possible to admit any latecomers to on stage seating.
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