The Swamp Dwellers

The play takes place during one day in the life of a Nigerian family. In a hut built on stilts over swamps in a village in the Nigerian Delta, a poor couple—Makuri, a barber and basket weaver; and his wife Alu, who works with adire Yoruba textile cloths—discuss their twin sons. Awuchike, who left their village 10 years ago for the city, has cut off all connection with Alu and Makuri. Alu fears Awuchike could be dead. His brother Igwezu, who also left the village for the city eight months earlier keeping a promise he made to his new wife, has remained connected to his parents. Igwezu has just returned to his home but has immediately left to navigate the swamps and reach his fields to see if they have produced a harvest.

The Swamp Dwellers’ cast includes Ato Blankson-Wood as Igwezu, Leon Addison Brown as Makuri, Joshua Echebiri as A Beggar, Jenny Jules as Alu, Jason Maina as Attendant to Kadiye, Chiké Okonkwo as Kadiye, and Olawale Oyenola as A Drummer.