Three Sisters

A co-production with Fuel

a new play by Inua Ellams
after Chekhov

From 3 December
Running Time: approx 3 hours and 15 mins, inc. interval.

Three Sisters

Love and longing in 1960s Nigeria.

Owerri, 1967, on the brink of the Biafran Civil War. Lolo, Nne Chukwu and Udo are grieving the loss of their father. Months before, two ruthless military coups plunged the country into chaos. Fuelled by foreign intervention, the conflict encroaches on their provincial village, and the sisters long to return to their former home in Lagos.

‘Warmth, wisdom and global reach.’
Daily Telegraph on Barber Shop Chronicles

‘Vital theatre. Funny, moving, unflinching.’
Sunday Times on The Half God of Rainfall

Following his smash-hit Barber Shop Chronicles, Inua Ellams returns to the National Theatre with this heartbreaking retelling, directed by Nadia Fall (Home, Dara).

Please note: This production contains strobe lighting.

Hundreds of £15 tickets for every performance

Originally commissioned by Metta Theatre

Production supported by Leila Maw Straus, Cockayne - Grants for the Arts and The London Community Foundation, Juliet de Baubigny and the Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater.

Talks and events
A Short History of the Biafran Civil War Fri 6 Dec, 6pm
Surviving Biafra: A Nigerwife’s Story Tue 7 Jan, 6pm
Three Sisters Student Conference Fri 31 Jan, 10.30am
Exploring Three Sisters and Chekhov Fri 7 Feb, 2pm
Writer Inua Ellams and Director Nadia Fall Fri 7 Feb, 6pm
Actors in Conversation Fri 14 Feb, 3pm

Three Sisters | About the play

The cast of Three Sisters introduce Inua Ellams' stunning adaptation of Chekhov's masterpiece. Music by Femi Temowo.

More info

Three Sisters: Photo Shoot Behind the Scenes

Capturing the artwork for Three Sisters with photographer Lakin Ogunbanwo and actors Sarah Niles, Natalie Simpson and Rachael Ofori.

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Three Sisters | Sisterhood in the play

Actors Sarah Niles, Racheal Ofori and Natalie Simpson talk about the importance of sisterhood in Inua Ellams' adaptation of Three Sisters. Music by Femi Temowo

More info

Three Sisters ticket prices and Access performances

Ticket prices

Monday - Thursday eves, all matinees
*£70, £50, £42, £38, £30, £15
Friday & Saturday eves
*£75, £55, £48, £42, £32, £15
Ways to save
Previews 3 - 9 Dec
£37 – £15

Access Performances

Audio-described performances, for blind and visually impaired people:
Fri 31 January, 7.30pm
Sat 1 February, 2.15pm with a Touch Tour at 12.45pm

Captioned performances, for deaf or hard-of-hearing people:
Fri 3 January, 7.30pm
Tue 28 January, 7.30pm
Wed 29 January, 2.15pm

*Some of the best seats in the house are premium priced. They help to ensure we can continue to offer low price seats for all our productions; the National Theatre is a charity and only 17% government-funded. This year nearly 30% of our tickets are available for £20 or less.

Smart caption glasses

Smart caption glasses are a revolutionary new way for people with hearing loss to enjoy performances at the National Theatre. For the first time, service users can experience our productions, including this one, from any seat in any theatre.

Find out about smart caption glasses