Nine Night
2018 play by Natasha Gordon
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Nine Night is a 2018 play by Natasha Gordon. It focuses on the traditional Jamaican Nine nights, as a family struggles with their loss.
| Nine Night | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Natasha Gordon |
| Directed by | Roy Alexander Weise - London (2019) |
| Date premiered | 21 April 2018 |
| Place premiered | Dorfman Theatre |
| Original language | English |
| Original run | 21 April - 26 May 2018 |
Productions
National theatre and West End (2018)
Nine Night had its world premiere production at Dorfman Theatre beginning on 21 April 2018, playing a limited run to 26 May.[1] The production was transferred to the West End, beginning previews at Trafalgar Studios on 1 December 2018 prior to opening night on 6 December. The production played a limited run to 23 February 2019.[2] The transfer to Trafalgar Studios in 2018 made Natasha Gordon the first Black female playwright to have their work staged in the West End.[3] The playwright herself also stepped into the role of Lorraine for this production.[4] Both the original production and the West End transfer were directed by Roy Alexander Weise.[1][2]
US (2022)
Nine Night was originally announced to be premiered in the US on 5 January 2022. However, the production was postponed due to cases of COVID-19 being detected in the company.[5] The postponed production was premiered at the Round House Theatre (Bethesda, Maryland) on 14 September 2022, with the run finishing on 9 October. The US production was directed by Timothy Douglas.[6]
Leeds and Nottingham Playhouses (2022)
In 2022, the play was scheduled for a revival at Leeds Playhouse from 24 September to 15 October, followed by a run at Nottingham Playhouse from 19 October to 5th November. This production was directed by Amanda Huxtable.[7] Nine Night's run in Leeds was also part of the Out of Many Festival, which celebrated Jamaican culture in the city.[8]
Actress Josephine Melville, who played the part of Aunt Maggie in this production, died backstage at Nottingham playhouse on 20 October 2022 after a performance. All subsequent performances of the Nottingham run were cancelled following Melville's death. [9]
Cast and characters
| Character | Dorfman Theatre | West End | US | Leeds and Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018[10] | 2018-19[11] | 2022[6] | 2022[12] | |
| Lorraine | Franc Ashman | Natasha Gordon | Lilian Oben | Shereener Browne |
| Trudy | Michelle Greenidge | Joy DeMichelle | Andrea Davy | |
| Anita | Rebekaha Murrell | Kaitlyn Boyer | Jessica Whitehurst | |
| Aunt Maggie | Cecilia Noble | Kim James Bey | Josephine Melville † | |
| Uncle Vince | Ricky Fearon | Karl Collins | Doug Brown | Wayne Rollins |
| Robert | Oliver Alvin-Wilson | Avery Glymph | Daniel Poyser | |
| Sophie | Hattie Ladbury | Katie deBuys | Jo Mousley | |
† Actor passed away during the production's run.
Critical reception
The play received generally positive reviews. Paul Taylor for The Independent states "Natasha Gordon's debut play buzzes with comic energy...The piece generates a fantastic atmosphere of inclusion. Natasha Gordon is an actress, but I have no doubt that from now on, we will be hearing a lot more from her as a dramatist."[13] In a five star review for the Evening Standard, Henry Hitchings states "Right now there’s probably no funnier performance in town than Cecilia Noble as Aunt Maggie, the clucking matriarch in Natasha Gordon’s richly enjoyable family drama."[14]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Evening Standard Theatre Award[15][16] | Best Actress | Cecilia Noble | Nominated |
| Most Promising Playwright | Natasha Gordon | Won | ||
| Emerging Talent | Roy Alexander Weise | Won | ||
| Critics’ Circle Theatre Award[17] | Most Promising Playwright | Natasha Gordon | Won | |
| 2019 | Laurence Olivier Award[18] | Best New Comedy | Nominated | |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Cecilia Noble | Nominated | ||