Production Photos: Once Upon a Time in Sokoto at Royal & Derngate

Breaking news to your phone. US mobile only. No password required.

Broadway + NYC

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Off-Off Broadway

Cabaret

Dance

Opera

Classical Music

West End / UK

International

Canada

Australia / New Zealand

Europe

Asia

Latin America

Africa / Middle East

Entertainment

Ctrl + K to open · Esc to close

Inua Ellams’ world premiere drama will tour the UK following its Northampton engagement.

Most Popular

Get all the top news & discounts for UK & beyond. No password required.

See new production photos for the world premiere of Once Upon a Time in Sokoto, an epic, gripping family drama, from internationally celebrated poet, playwright Inua Ellams (Barber Shop Chronicles, Three Sisters), ahead of its opening tomorrow night at Royal & Derngate, Northampton. It will run in Northampton until 10 October and will then tour to Oxford Playhouse (13-17 October), Nottingham Playhouse (29-31 October), Warwick Arts Centre (5-7 November), Leeds Playhouse (11-14 November), Brighton Dome (17 - 21 November) and Bristol Old Vic (2-13 February 2027).

Get all the top news & discounts for UK & beyond.

The Alfred Fagon Award-winning Once Upon a Time in Sokoto  tells the epic story of a beautiful but unlikely friendship forged between an enslaved woman and her former master. Differences in faith, culture and heritage are overcome in the face of new enemies, in a gripping family drama set against the backdrop of events leading to the creation of Nigeria

It is directed by Roy Alexander Weise (Nine Night, ROBOTA) and stars Adeola Yemitan (Elektra, Much Ado About Nothing) as Nafisa, Antonia Layiwola (Is Dat U Yh?, Silkworm) as Zinari, Bayo Gbadamosi (The Great, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) as Hadiru and Will Atiomo (Blitz, The Sandman) as Yusef.

Co-commissioned and developed by Fuel with The National Theatre , the play is produced by Fuel for Touring Together, a brand new nationwide touring initiative committed to taking new theatre of the finest quality across the country. Touring Together is led by  Fuel and China Plate in collaboration with Brighton Dome, Leeds Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry. It represents a strategic partnership for producing and touring new midscale theatre that will bring bold new plays to audiences, creating a robust network of touring venues who will collectively make, present and partner on the work. Working with exceptional artists to share new work and embrace diverse stories that shine fresh light on the world we live in, Touring Together presents a new show that will tour to all of the partner venues and beyond in October 2026 and again in the same timeframe in 2027. The first show, Once Upon a Time in Sokoto is produced by Fuel and will be followed by a China Plate production in autumn 2027. The initiative is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton (

Will Atiomo, Antonia Layiwola

Antonia Layiwola, Bayo Gbadamosi

Will Atiomo, Antonia Layiwola, Adeola Yemitan and Bayo Gbadamosi

Will Atiomo, Antonia Layiwola, Adeola Yemitan and Bayo Gbadamosi

Will Atiomo, Antonia Layiwola, Adeola Yemitan and Bayo Gbadamosi

Adeola Yemitan, Will Atiomo, Antonia Layiwola

Adeola Yemitan and Will Atiomo, and Bayo Gbadamosi

Adeola Yemitan and Antonia Layiwola

Adeola Yemitan and Antonia Layiwola

Adeola Yemitan and Antonia Layiwola

Adeola Yemitan

Adeola Yemitan

Adeola Yemitan

Adeola Yemitan

Adeola Yemitan

Adeola Yemitan

Adeola Yemitan

Adeola Yemitan and Will Atiomo

Adeola Yemitan and Will Atiomo

Adeola Yemitan and Antonia Layiwola

Nominate your favorite local productions and performers before the deadline on October 31, 2026.

Review Roundup: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, Starring Gillian Anderson & Billy Crudup

Review: TRU, Starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Menier Chocolate Factory

Anna Lapwood, Take That, and More Set For Royal Albert Hall Christmas Season

New Cast Set For PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL in the West End

Also text me

When are you seeing ?

Get an Alert Each Time A.A. Cristi Writes

BroadwayWorld TV

Breaking Broadway news and show discounts. No password required.

Breaking Broadway news on your phone. US mobile numbers only.

POPULAR

Sign up for announcements and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows!

© 2026 — Copyright Wisdom Digital Media , all rights reserved. Privacy Policy

Episode

_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Photos-ONCE-UPON-A-TIME-IN-SOKOTO-at-Royal-Derngate-20261002)._