The Half God of Rainfall

Written by
Inua Ellams

Directed by
Nancy Medina

Age recommendation
14+

Running time
approximately 90 minutes

Dates
13 Apr - 17 May 2019

Project History

Fuel, Kiln Theatre, and Birmingham Repertory Theatre present The Half God of Rainfall

We risk war. This is the consequence. Battle. Shield. Spear and sword. Conflict amongst the Gods. This must be avoided.

When Demi, the half Nigerian-mortal, half Greek-God, is angry, rain clouds gather. When he cries, rivers burst their banks.

The first time Demi takes a shot on the local basketball court, the deities of the land awaken. As he unknowingly sparks Zeus’ wrath, his mother Modupe takes matters into her mortal hands and the consequences change their lives forever.

From award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams (Barber Shop Chronicles; An Evening With An Immigrant) comes a new myth. The Half God of Rainfall is a contemporary epic that weaves poetry and storytelling in a majestic journey that transports us from a tiny village in South West Nigeria to Mount Olympus, to the further reaches of our galaxy and beyond.

Director: Nancy Medina
Designer: Max Johns
Movement Director: Imogen Knight
Lighting Designer: Jackie Shemesh
Sound Designer: Tanuja Amarasuriya

Cast:
Rakie Ayola
Kwami Odoom

#TheHalfGodOfRainfall

"Ellams’s writing is exceptional, and has a character and an incredible ability to paint vivid pictures for an audience. His words are full of love, nostalgia and strength. He transports us."

A Younger Theatre on 'An Evening With An Immigrant'

"Ellams has an instinctive feel for the polyphonous rhythms of dialogue, and the way his characters use language is both a texture and a theme of this play."

The Telegraph on 'Barber Shop Chronicles'

"His writing is aromatic. He can capture the smell of a place, the sense of a moment, as well as anyone."

Whatsonstage on 'Black T-shirt Collection'