British-African family drama at the Black-E

“You think England is hard? Compared to Nigeria? My dear, you haven’t seen anything yet!” Following sell-out shows at Arcola Theatre, award-winning British-African family drama Pandora's Box comes to the Black-E this week as part of a UK tour. Nominated for this year’s Nigeria Prize for Literature (apparently Africa's biggest literary award), and Best New Play in Off West End Theatre Awards, as well as bagging awards for playwright Ade Solanke in the Nigerian Entertainment Awards and African Film Awards, Pandora's Box is described as a moving tragicomedy about families, betrayal, choices and love. It is presented by Spora Stories, a company that creates original drama for stage and screen, telling the dynamic stories of the African diaspora. Summer break is ending. On holiday with her streetwise son in Nigeria, a British-Nigerian mother is in turmoil. Should she leave her only child in a strict Lagos boarding school, or return him to the battlefields of inner London? A family spanning three generations and two continents meets in Lagos for the first time in over thirty years. But the joy of reunion also unleashes long-suppressed truths. Described as an exuberant and thought-provoking mix of comedy, tragedy and family drama, Pandora’s Box reveals the heartbreak behind the difficult choices some parents must make – and the price their children pay. Diane Abbott MP is among the fans of the piece, and described it as: “A funny, poignant play. All parents agonise about education - for black and diaspora parents, race and culture make the decision making even more complex.” The show comes to the Black-E on Friday (September 12). For more information, visit sporastories.com. follow them on Twitter, or see their Facebook.