| Nine Night | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Natasha Gordon |
| Directed by | Roy Alexander Weise - London (2019) |
| Date premiered | 21 April 2018 (2018-04-21) |
| Place premiered | Dorfman Theatre |
| Original language | English |
| Original run | 21 April - 26 May 2018 |
Nine Night is a 2018 play by Natasha Gordon. It focuses on the traditional Jamaican Nine nights, as a family struggles with their loss.
Productions
[edit]National theatre and West End (2018)
[edit]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)
[edit]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)
[edit]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
[edit]| 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
[edit]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
[edit]| 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 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b Wild, Stephi. "National Theatre Announces its May-September 2018 Season". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Nine Night". Trafalgar Theatre. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ Crompton, Sarah (4 December 2018). "Natasha Gordon interview: 'I didn't experience prejudice in Britain until I went into the middle-class world of theatre'". The Independent. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (7 September 2018). "Nine Night writer Natasha Gordon to star in her debut play in the West End | WhatsOnStage". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ "Round House delays Natasha Gordon's 'Nine Night' due to COVID". DC Theater Arts. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Nine Night". TheatreWashington. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ Ell, Jenny (4 August 2022). "Full casting announced for Natasha Gordon's NINE NIGHT at Leeds Playhouse and Nottingham Playhouse". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ Coggins, Liz (25 May 2022). "NINE NIGHT". Leeds Guide. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "NEWS: Josephine Melville". Nottingham Playhouse. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ Fisher, Philip (21 April 2018). "Theatre review: Nine Night at Dorfman Theatre (National Theatre)". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ Daniels, Nicholas Ephram Ryan (10 September 2018). "Casting announced for West End transfer of Nine Night". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (4 August 2022). "Full Cast Announced For The Regional Premiere Of Natasha Gordon's NINE NIGHT at Leeds Playhouse and Nottingham Playhouse". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "Nine Night, National Theatre, review: Natasha Gordon's debut play buzzes with comic energy". The Independent. 1 May 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ "Nine Night is a remarkable debut that captures humour of the everyday". Evening Standard. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ "Read the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 shortlist in full". www.standard.co.uk. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Jessie (19 November 2018). "Find out the winners of this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "2018 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 29 January 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "Olivier awards 2019: full list of winners". The Guardian. 7 April 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 March 2026.