The Substation/ Empty Seat/ Akaraka/
Wheelchair accessible
$40 General Admission
$30 Concession
$25 Hobsons Bay Resident
$20 First Nations
PRESENTED BY THE SUBSTATION AND EMPTY SEAT
A new play from playwright, actor and spoken-word poet Amarachi and Empty Seat. Akaraka centers around the experience of a young, Nigerian woman, Adaeze, who sits at a crossroads in life.
Adaeze is grappling with the expectations that come with being a young, Nigerian woman in Melbourne. Her family life is colourful, her social life buoyant, but still, she feels this unease. How can you be so sure of what you want, when you don’t yet know who you are?
Obiefuna is certain of what he wants in his life in pre-colonial Nigeria. His single-minded pursuit of love for a princess, Olamma, is not without its sacrifice.
The obstacles that face these two characters are inherently different, but the challenge remains the same: How do the choices we make ripple through the generations?
This play is a celebration of culture, exploring the complexities that come with identity, love, and the reckoning of sacrifice. Our past is inextricable to who we are. Akaraka reminds us that by making peace with our history, we have autonomy to create our future.
WARNINGS
This performance contains haze, moderate coarse language, staged violence and misogyny. This performance also contains depictions of violence against women, emotional abuse, and alcohol use, as well as references to self harm and suicide, mental health and death.
ACCESS
This performance contains sustained bright light and sustained loud noises. The seating provided for this performance will be chairs with backs in a seating bank.
This performance is wheelchair accessible and gender neutral accessible toilets are available. Registered assistance animals are welcome.
The Substation galleries, bar and bookshop are open from 6.30pm (one hour prior to the performance).
The duration of the performance is 90 minutes. Please note, latecomers may not be admitted.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Effie Nkrumah – Director
Amarachi – Writer
Eloise Kent– Production Designer
Sandra Githinji – Production Consultant
Giovanna Yate Gonzalez – Lighting Designer
Saieesh Shanmugarajah – Sound Designer
Mazbou Q – Sound Consultant
Rachel Kamath – Producer
Ruby Duncan – Producer
Vivian Nguyen – Producer
Rhys Velasquez – Casting Consultant | Evolution Casting
CAST
Alpha Kargbo
Atinuke Abraham
Folusho Akinlabi
Gabriella Barbagallo
Gispa
Ratidzo Mambo
Tino Iheme
Victory Ndukwe
Tickets/
Akaraka is co-presented by The Substation and Empty Seat Theatre. This project is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, and Hobsons Bay City Council. Akaraka is additionally sponsored by Little Lagos and Vola Foods.
Empty Seat Theatre is auspiced by Auspicious Arts.
