Recent Work

 

2022

Sankofa – written by Nicole Acquah at Curve, Leicester 

As part of the New Work Festival 

Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, Sankofa is a semi-autobiographical show about legacy, heritage, and what it means to belong as part of the African diaspora, told through live music, storytelling and traditional pottery.

Saturday 12th March 

https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/new-work-festivalsankofa/

 

Curve Theatre / New Work Festival:<br>Sankofa

 

Sankofa at Bread and Roses Theatre, Clapham 

Bread and Roses Theatre, 15-19th February 2022 

Written by Nicole Acquah

Directed by: Carol Leeming MBE 

Produced & Stage Managed by: Tia Ray 

Starring: Nicole Acquah, Doyin Ade, Vanessa Garber 

Choreography by: Kwame Asafo-Adjei 

Lighting design by: Kwame Asafo-Adjei   

 

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Tickets here: https://www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/whats-on.html

 

sankofa a3 poster

 

 

2021

‘I Can’t Breathe’ and ‘Today I’m Wiser’ Festival 

Performing an extract from my play at ‘I Can’t Breathe’ festival at Tower Theatre and The Arcola Outside. 

I can't breathe - The Tower Theatre

A combination of plays and performances exploring Black experiences during the pandemic, particularly in the light of George Floyd’s murder and the Black Lives Matter protests. 

Curated by Landé Belo and directed by Landé Belo and Lyla Smith-Abass.

I can’t breathe – Arcola Theatre

I can’t breathe – The Tower Theatre

 

‘IN OUR IMAGE’ commissioned by Royal Central School of Speech and Drama 

A new piece of theatre exploring AI and the racial bias in algorithms that affect our education and policing systems. 

Commissioned for the Performing and Directing Text Options Unit for MA Advanced Theatre Practice.

Many thanks to Nick Wood and Ayse Tashkiran, and the M(f)AATP students for their stunning interpretations of the text! 

 

BURNOUT commissioned by Shybairn Theatre @ Live Theatre, Newcastle – Playwright & Dramaturgy 

​Written by myself and devised by Shybairn Theatre (shybairntheatre.co.uk) BURNOUT is a show about climate activism, and asking why the movement doesn’t include those impacted the most. 

BURNOUT had a two week R&D which took place at Live Theatre in 2021. 

Kindly funded by Arts Council England and Live Theatre.

Photography by Tom Johnson ‘TJMOV’

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‘TAME’ Research & Development @ Leeds Playhouse – Director/Facilitator 

An ACE-funded R&D, led by Eleanor Manners, Senior Young People’s Officer at Leeds Playhouse.

Two weeks joyfully creating a show for young people, around the topic of natural afro-hair.

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HOT IN HERE – Playwright/Dramaturg 

Commissioned by pigfoot theatre, HOT IN HERE is a piece exploring climate change, and how it is disproportionately affecting people in the Global South and nearest the equator.

The show’s technology is powered by energy generated by the performers’ collective bodies, through an energy-harvesting dance-floor.

Commissioned as part of Camden People’s Theatre Outside the Box Season generously funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

2020

CASTE-ING at The Barbican – Playwright 

An original play. A beatboxing musical seed-commissioned by Nouveau Riche and performed at The Barbican. Caste-ing is a play following the lives of Black actresses in the UK. An exciting blend of beatbox-gig theatre, spoken word and song.

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2020/event/open-lab-showcase-caste-ing

She is a Place Called Home – VAULT Festival 2020 – Actor 

“Jordan Noel and Nicole Acquah bring empathetic depth to their portrayals of differing ways of trying to survive trauma.” 

NICOLE ACQUAH LIVE SHOT

 

2019

CASTE-ING at The Barbican – Playwright 

Friday 4th October, 15:00 at The Pit

Playwriting commission by theatre company Nouveau Riche  (https://www.nvrch.com/) in collaboration with The Barbican. We’ll be sharing the fruits of our R&D during the first week of October.

This piece explores the experiences of Black UK actresses, fusing beatboxing, spoken word, rap and theatre.

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MUR/MER – Sadlers Wells – Actor/Dancer

Performing on the main stage at Sadlers Wells as part of the Danse Elargie international dance festival was an absolute blessing!

Choreography by Elsa Chene.

Review: Mur/Mer, dreamlike and impressionistic, stands out as an evening winner...

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Way Back When @ Blue Elephant Theatre – Actor

Produced by Blue Elephant Theatre and written by Jacqui Livingstone.

Way Back When is children’s theatre that celebrates Afro-Caribbean storytelling. Playing 8 year old Alex was a pure delight! We took the show to several schools, a playpark and Blue Elephant theatre itself!

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Janelle Thompson (right) & myself (left)

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i stopped…when @ VAULT Festival – Acquah&co

A new piece of Slam Theatre exploring love, labels and interracial relationships.

Playwright: Nicole Acquah

Director: Dorcas A. Stevens

Cast: Nicole Acquah, Joseph Cullen, Lauren La Rocque, Tom Nguyen

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i stopped…when recommended by Lyn Gardner in Stagedoor (linked here)

Our Anniversary 

Short film exploring obsession and paralysed realities.

Role: Naomi (Lead)

In association with the University of Greenwich 

Hiraeth

Short film exploring loss and family ties

Role: Solicitor

In association with the University of Greenwich 

Hiareth

 

Heroines

Written by Nicole Acquah.

Commissioned by The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama under the title ‘Heroines’.

Heroines in Limbo

Written by Nicole Acquah. 

Commissioned by The Heroine Chronicles Theatre Company.

Developed in association with Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre.

Heroines in Limbo is a satirical show that challenges what it means to be a heroine, and whether or not we can (or should) reconstruct the narratives of fictional heroines.  It is currently being developed in collaboration with The Heroine Chronicles, The Tramshed and Sedgehill School in London.

heroines in limbo
Photography by Callie Nestleroth

INFOMANIA at MINIATURISTS: VAULT EDITION

My short play Infomania, was chosen to be part of The Miniaturists new writing night.

Directed by Simona Hughes.

 

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2018

Ground Control – UK Tour – Performer 

An interactive show for children, by non zero one.

Commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre Collaborative Touring Network (CTN). Touring to 8 regional festivals.

http://www.nonzeroone.com/projects/ground-control/ 

Hillsong Christmas Carols (O2 Wembley Arena) – Actor 

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THE PAPER TRAVELER  

Excited to return and play Mrs A in The Paper Traveler by Marie Klimis.

ROLE: Actor

An interactive show, which brings stories to life in a sort of treasure hunt through libraries!



Kensington Central Library 
30 October, 1 & 3 November 2018
Woolwich Centre Library
8 & 10 November 2018
Westminster Reference Library 
21, 22, 23 & 24 November 2018

Tickets: £3 / £5 https://www.marieklimis.com/papertraveller

For a Black Girl at The Curve, Slough (16th October 2018) 

For a Black Girl is BACK! We’ll be performing at a stylish arts space called The Curve Slough on 16th October, 2018. 

Come join us!

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Medusa at The Crypt Gallery

I’m working with powerhouse all-female theatre company, 27 degrees, to bring alive this tale about monsters, myths and womanhood.

“A contemporary take on a well-known tale, examining what it takes for women to be considered monsters.”

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For a Black Girl – Written by Nicole Acquah (VAULT Festival)

I wrote a play called ‘For a Black Girl’. It’s a brutally honest exploration of the Black British experience in the UK.

For a Black Girl made the ‘Top 10 shows to see at VAULT’ as recommended by The Guardian. It was also listed in WhatsonStage and The Upcoming.

“A vital and vibrant show”

The Stage

4 STARS

“A cleverly written and passionately performed bombardment”

Theatre Bubble

4 STARS

“A flash of brilliance. The… show is brutal, honest and crafted with real skill.”

Miro Magazine

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For a Black Girl – VAULT Festival 2018 (Photo by Christina Bulford)

For a Black Girl (15th March, Camden People’s Theatre)

I wrote a semi-autobiographical play which explores the lives and experiences of BAME (particularly female BAME) citizens in the UK.

After a hugely successful run at London’s biggest arts festival, the show is now also part of SPRINT Festival 2018.

Come join us at Camden People’s Theatre this March! > https://www.cptheatre.co.uk/production/for-a-black-girl/

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Photography by Christina Bulford

The play is being brought to life by This Is It Theatre Company. We’ve got some exciting venues lined up, so give us a follow on our twitter: For a Black Girl for further details!

N*ggerA One Woman Show

Omnibus Theatre

I’ll be performing in a fresh, new devised show exploring power and language, entitled ‘N*gger’ as part of Omnibus Theatre’s ‘Engine Room’ programme.

If you’re simply looking for a show which is vibrant, colourful and thought-provoking, this is the one for you! Please join me in a part scripted, part improvised show, tracking the N word from its origination to its current day usage.

Performer: Nicole Acquah

Director: Sammy O’Byrne

In collaboration with: Omnibus Theatre

Tickets and more info: https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/event/engine-room-12/

The Paper Traveller (2018) Wandsworth Arts Fringe

I’m performing in this show by theatre-maker and designer, Marie Klimis. Part of Wandsworth Fringe!

An exciting new piece of storytelling which is part theatre, part treasure hunt.

Come join us on:

Battersea Library: 5, 9, 12 & 16, May 2018

Walthamstow Library: 10 May 2018

Manor House Library: 13 & 15 May 2018

TICKETS HERE – https://www.marieklimis.com/papertraveller

Identity – Facilitated by Lulu Pollice (2017)

To be showcased at the BFI on 18th November 2017. 

This was a project which joined a small group of facilitators, asylum seekers, and artists for a day of exploration, discussions on identity and expressing our home and cultures.

My role was as an artist and I was given one hour to create art based on the events of the day. I created a spoken word poem (combined with movement), which was filmed and will be showcased at BFI cinema 18th November 2017.

It was a very illuminating day, and above all else, enjoyable! It was great to meet people from all over the world, hear their stories and even share in some food together. When I can I will share the finished film with you.

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