by Natasha Gordon
Running time 1hr 45min, including a 15min interval
Wednesday 15th – Saturday 25th June
At the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington
Directed by Emilia Teglia
Buy Tickets :
Wednesday June 15th at 7.30
Thursday June 16th at 7.30
Friday June 17th at 7.30
Saturday June 18th at 3.00
Saturday June 18th at 7.30
Tuesday June 21st at 7.30
Wednesday June 22nd at 7.30
Thursday June 23rd at 7.30
Friday June 24th at 7.30
Saturday June 25th at 3.00
Saturday June 25th at 7.30
We want our audiences to feel as safe as possible when visiting the Tower Theatre. We understand that not everyone is ready to return to full capacity in our venue so the performances on Tuesday June 21st at 7.30 and Saturday June 25th at 3.00 will be socially-distanced performances. This means we will operate with reduced capacity, spaced seating and our FoH volunteers will wear face coverings. Audience members are asked to wear masks unless they are exempt.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Saturday 18th June: Caribbean tea and intergenerational writing workshop
Enjoy a Caribbean tea and engage in a post-performance workshop talking about experience of Caribbean traditions. The workshop is filmed.
FREE – booking essential (limited places) for Caribbean participants attending the matinée performance. For bookings and information email [email protected]
Wednesday 22nd June: Windrush day celebrations
Join us for a Jamaican-themed evening with music and Caribbean buffet.
FREE to audience attending the performance.
Led by Odd Eyes Theatre in collaboration with Immediate Theatre and the Tower Theatre. Supported with funding through the Windrush Day Grant Scheme.
“Three things you don’t mess with when it comes to Jamaicans. Their money, their food and their traditions.”
When Gloria’s time comes, the traditional Nine Night rituals begins. With food, drinks, music, laughter and memories, the people in her life come together across generations and continents to celebrate her. But nine nights of party don’t ease the complexities of this family’s dynamics.
Natasha Gordon’s debut play has been described as “a touching and very funny exploration of the rituals of family.” Intrinsically specific in its cultural references to Jamaican traditions, it touches on universal experiences of families dealing with death and talks about grief, love, exposed secrets and greed. Nine Night is also a play about migrants’ eternal struggle to define themselves.
It enjoyed a stunning sold-out run at the National Theatre in April 2018 before transferring to Trafalgar Studios, making Natasha Gordon the first black British female playwright to be produced in the West End.
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal 
‘Nine Night’ in rehearsal
Photography by David Sprecher
Cast |
| Lorraine : Nia Woodward Robert : Chukwudi Onwere Trudy : Vanessa Cruickshank Anita : Shona Delvaille Sophie : Lucy Moss Maggie : Mitsy June Vince : Peta Barker |
Production Team |
| Director : Emilia Teglia Set Design : Phillip Ley Costume Design : Samantha Jones Lighting Design : Nick Insley Sound Design : Feiyang Yang Stage Managers : Angelika Michitsch, Steven Brasher Assistant Director : Bianca 'BeEbop' Curacao Assistant Stage Manager : Ana Albuquerque Voice Coach : Peta Barker Fight Director : Richard Kirby |
 Chukwudi Onwere trained at East 15 Acting Schooland his Tower Theatre debut was in Blue/Orange (Upstairs at the Gatehouse 2018). Other theatre includes The Deptford Bouncer (Matchstick Theatre, Deptford Literature Festival 2022), Othello (Mary Wallace Theatre), Richard II (Malachite Theatre), Shedding (Tristan Bates Theatre), The Rover (New Diorama Theatre); his TV appearances include TV Footballers (Sky Channel) and on film, The Rap Killer (Short Film). Chukwudi is absolutely thrilled to be in Nine Night, and is excited to perform in the new Tower space for the first time! |
 Vanessa Cruickshank is an actress, TV presenter and Executive Producer who found her love of performing as a kid where she started training in tap and ballet. Her film credits include the BBC Short Film Dinah; Positive Action and the hugely successful series Drillin. Her stage credits nclude the lead in Within These Four Walls; Betty in Supper Freaks and Kariss in The Knowledge. Vanessa has years of TV and documentary experience, including running her own show, Tell Vanessa, for two series on Sky TV, and producing a documentary, Silent Loss Hidden Truth, about baby loss and miscarriage. |
 This is Shona Delvaille's first Tower Theatre production so she is really excited about taking part. She graduated with a degree in drama and performing arts from Roehampton University and has studied at the Identity School of Acting, Kingdom Drama School, Middleweek Newton and at The Unseen drama school. |
 Lucy Moss is an actor, writer, and director. Most recently she has been seen on stage as Sammie in Mules (November 2021); she has since directed the short play Baby Dolls as part of the Spring Forward event, and had great fun remembering the 1980s as costume designer for the joyous Bouncers and Shakers (March 2022). Lucy has been a member of the Tower Theatre since 2017. |
 Mitsy June has been a professional back up singer and independent solo artist for over 30 years. She studied Commutation Arts, Drama & Theatre level 1 at the Morley Jazz College and group solo singing and recording at the CleanBreak theatre company. She has toured with many reggae legends in Europe, Africa and the Carribbean islands. She is also a session singer and CEO of the Diva studios based in south London. She has financed and released her own album Play Mitsy for Me . This is her first project with the Tower Theatre. |
 Peta Barker's acting credits include Ariel and Caliban (The Tempest), Iago (Othello), Mrs Yajnavalkya (Valmouth), The Voice of Audrey II - the Plant (The Little Shop of Horrors), Mbongeni (Woza Albert!), Scullery (Road), Ash (Dealer's Choice), Jack Mullen (The Weir), John (Shining City), Derek (Brighton Beach Scumbags) and Hoke (Driving Miss Daisy) and, most recently, Joe in Port Authority. Directing credits include Blue Remembered Hills, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Burn This, Lysistrata, Brimstone and Treacle, The Lieutenant of Inishmore and Arcadia. He has adapted and directed Russell Hoban's novel Kleinzeit, and was part of the Tower Team in the RSC's A Midsummer Night's Dream, playing Snug the Joiner. |
 This is Emilia Teglia's third production as a director with the Tower Theatre. As well as directing, Emilia has been a keen audience member for nearly 15 years before finding the courage to jump on the creative wagon as Assistant Stage Manager for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in 2014. Things moved swiftly and in September 2015 she was Assistant Director on The Priory, and the following year she directed Cooking With Elvis, followed by Pygmalion in 2019. In her day job, Emilia is Artistic Director at Odd Eyes Theatre as well as freelance playwright and lecturer in Dramaturgy and Theatre of the Oppressed. |