National Theatre at Home: Barber Shop Chronicles
One day. Six cities. A thousand stories.
Following two sell-out runs at the National Theatre, a world tour, and a hugely successful summer residency at London's Roundhouse, Inua Ellams’ acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles is now available to watch through National Theatre at Home.
Newsroom, political platform, local hotspot, confession box, preacher-pulpit and football stadium. For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops to discuss the world. These are places where the banter can be barbed and the truth is always telling.
Directed by Olivier award-winning director Bijan Sheibani, Barber Shop Chronicles is a heart-warming, hilarious and insightful new play that leaps from a barber shop in Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra over the course of a single day.
This enhanced archive recording was captured by the National Theatre in January 2018 and features the original cast.
We’re all about experiencing theatre together.
At a time when many theatre fans around the world aren’t able to visit National Theatre Live venues or local theatres, we’re excited to bring you National Theatre at Home.
Our streaming performance of Barber Shop Chronicles is on 14 May at 7pm UK time. It will be available until 7pm on Thursday 21 May but you'll need to start watching by 5pm UK time on 21 May to ensure you see it all.
You will be able to watch some of the best British theatre from the comfort of your living room, via YouTube for free, with each title available for one week.
Thank you to all the amazing artists who have allowed us to share Barber Shop Chronicles in this way, during a time when many theatre fans aren’t able to visit their local theatre.
Audio described notes for Barber Shop Chronicles
Audio Described background to the play 1 min 25 secs (MP3 3.26MB)
Audio Described Notes of the set, characters and costumes 12 mins 39 secs (MP3 28.9MB)
Co-commissioned by Fuel and the National Theatre. Development funded by Arts Council England with the support of Fuel, National Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, The Binks Trust, British Council ZA, Òran Mór and A Play, a Pie and a Pint.
Click here to support the Roundhouse, our partners on the 2019 London production of Barber Shop Chronicles.
