Actors Touring Company’s UK Tour of Tambo & Bones comes to Stratford East | 29 April – Sat 10 May

Talking to Visual Theatre Maker Benji Reid: Find Your Eyes returns to Manchester

Tambo and Bones are stuck in a minstrel show.

It’s hard to know what’s real when you’re stuck in a minstrel show.

Their escape plan: get out, get rich, get even.

All images credit: Credit Korey J Ryan: In rehearsal Tambo – Clifford Samuel
Bones – Daniel Ward and in centre Director Matthew Xia

One of the most talked-about cultural events of 2023, Tambo & Bones is an exhilarating, darkly comic and provocative satire on capitalism and Black performance, that explores the commodification of the Black experience through the mediums of minstrelsy, hip-hop and afro-futurism. Spanning 500 years, Tambo and Bones journey from comedy double-act, to hip-hop superstars to activists in a future America, contending with the alarming repercussions of a nation torn apart by race. Harris’ blistering play laughs through our past, blows the roof off our present and imagines an explosive future for our world and for theatre.

Commenting on this co-production, Director Matthew Xia says:

“I spent my formative years at Stratford East, its philosophy is in my DNA. I started in the Youth Theatre in 1993 and by the time I left in 2010, I was the Associate Director. Stratford East is where I first combined my love of theatre with my passion for hip-hop, making shows with ULTZ like DA BOYZ and Jean Genet’s THE BLACKS (REMIXED). It feels very full circle to return with ATC, the company I now lead, and this playful and provocative hip-hop infused satire as part of our Transformation Season”.

Clifford Samuel (2:22 A Ghost Story, McMafia) will play the role of Tambo and Daniel Ward (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, Rebellion) will reprise his role as Bones.

Directed by Olivier-award-winning Director, Composer and DJ Matthew Xia (Artistic Director and Joint CEO of ATC) Tambo & Bones is an Actors Touring Company, Stratford East and Royal & Derngate, Northampton Co-Production in association with Belgrade Theatre, Leeds Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.