fortyfivedownstairs 7:30 pm
Brought together by two of Melbourne’s leading Afro-descent theatre-makers, Jamaican-Australian writer-performer Amarantha Robinson (La Mama's Oshun) and Ghanaian-Australian Actor/Director Effie Nkrumah (Malthouse's Who No Kno Go Kno), Ilarun: The Cutting Comb is a forceful reminder of the power of free will.
Set on an English plantation in Jamaica, Ilarun draws inspiration from the legendary Nanny of the Maroons, an enslaved woman who led a rebellion and gained freedom. This expansive story imagines a world where the sexual fluids of enslaved West African women are harvested for power, all while celebrating the rediscovery of self. An integral part of the story is of course, the ILARUN – the Yoruba word for a comb, a predecessor to the Afro pick.
Brought to life by Afro-Caribbean ceremony, Ghanaian drumming and a mix of African dances, Ilarun is what Robinson calls “theatre at its most potent."
With a talented ensemble cast featuring Alpha Kargbo, Rufaro Zimbudzi, David Watton and William Hall, Ilarun promises to be a visceral, humorous, action-adventure into the heart of our collective history, Afro-diasporan identity and Black empowerment.
Ilarun: The Cutting Comb will play for a short run from December 5 to December 15 at Fortyfivedownstairs on Flinders Lane. Tickets range from $35 – $49, which you can purchase here.