Gbolahan Obisesan's Directs His New Play HOW NIGERIA BECAME Oct 9-Nov 9

Unicorn presents HOW NIGERIA BECAME: A STORY, AND A SPEAR THAT DIDN'T WORK Thursday 9 October to Sunday 9 November 2014, written and directed by Gbolahan Obisesan, set and costumes designed by Rajha Shakiry, lighting design by Azusa Ono and sound by Donato Wharton, movement direction by Diane Alison-Mitchell.

It's 1914, one hundred years ago exactly, and Nigeria is about to be formed. Herbert and his feisty troupe of female actors are preparing to stage a story for the British Governor and his wife.

The story of the Spear of Shango is about a brave young woman who must use her strength and agility to save her father's kingdom. But there's a problem, the story doesn't quite fit with the governor's vision of a united country...

This lively and vivid comedy offers an original insight into Nigeria's beginnings in 1914 and commemorates the centenary of Nigeria as part of Black History Month at the Unicorn.

How Nigeria Became is written and directed by the award-winning Gbolahan Obisesan whose directing credits include most recently We Are Proud to Present (Bush Theatre), Pigeon English (Bristol Old Vic/Edinburgh) and Feast (Young Vic). His play Mad About the Boy played at the Unicorn following being awarded a Fringe First for Best Play at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011. Gbolahan also won the Jerwood Directors Award at the Young Vic in 2009 with his acclaimed production Sus.

The cast are Rita Balogun, Tunji Falani, Stephanie Levi-John, Rebecca Omogbehin and Christian Roe.

For ages 8+

Duration: Approx 1 hr 15 mins

For press information and reviewing tickets please contact Clióna Roberts on 020 7704 6224 / 07754 756504 or email cliona@crpr.co.uk or Isabel Madgwick on 0207 6450 545 or email isabel.madgwick@unicorntheatre.com