Description
By Lara Grace Ilori
I’ve been trying to train myself to remember when my peace of mind wavers that…
My hips
Curves
Lips
Dips…
My body
This body
My body more than just matters.
Runner Girl returns for a 1 week run after a sold-out at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre as part of Camden Fringe Festival 2025, and Theatre Peckham’s Young, Gifted and Black 2025 season. Join us in experiencing more poetry and spoken word, movement, and the premiere of music produced by the writer and performer Lara Grace Ilori.
Anu has just arrived back home from uni and is navigating a world of buried feelings that rise to the surface after one terrifying encounter with a stranger. Runner Girl is a raw and relentless rhythmic story of a young woman who misses her Mum, a young woman whose been running from young, in more ways than one – but in this case, her routinely jog takes a terrifying turn triggering long-buried wounds she’s fought hard to keep hidden. This is a piece full of poems and prayers, rhymes and rhythms, and music and movement, following Anu on a path she was determined to not travel: visiting love lost, old wounds opened, and new truths given space to unfold.
Content awareness information: Strong language, partial nudity, and references to sexual assault, sexual harassment and suicidal thoughts
2025 Reviews
★★★★
“A heartfelt, energetic solo show”
Everything Theatre
2025 Audience Reviews
“Innovative, engaging, necessary”.
“This wasn’t just a performance – this was a raw, moving message that left me inspired to reflect on my own healing”.
“Electric performance by Lara. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her”.
“Lara’s honest portrayal of mental health and the healing journey was powerful and thought-provoking”.
“I am completely rocked by it”.
Lara Grace Ilori Anu
Korede Ilori Mum (Voiceover)
Writer, Music Producer and Actor Lara Grace Ilori
Director Ewa Dina
Associate Director Tia-zakura Camilleri
Movement Director Selina Jones
Producer Mwansa Phiri
Runner Girl Engagement Programme Producer I L X I A H
Runner Girl Engagement Programme Producer Visual Sauce
Yorùbá Consultant Korede Ilori
With thanks to the Brixton House team, RAW Material Music, Poetic Unity, London Bubble, Lion and Unicorn Theatre, Theatre Peckham, Jade Samuels, Yomi Sode, London Performance Studios, and the original creative team for your care and generosity in the journey of the play: Dela Ruth Hini, Iman Muhammad, Liam Narrie, Francis-Xavier Ssuna.
Lara Grace Ilori is an artist working across various creative mediums to perform, pen and produce stories and events that reflect her culture, heritage and lived experiences. Lara’s performance work includes performing at theatres such as Theatre Peckham, Brixton House, Southwark Playhouse and Royal Court Theatre, as well as on screen in Channel 4’s BIG MOOD series. Previous training includes RADA (BA Acting) and UCL (MSc Social and Cultural Anthropology).
After being Lead Student of the Acting Course at RADA and taking on a Masters in Anthropology, Lara was invited to represent UCL as a UCL Anthropology Ambassador, and became the first Black British Masters student to be invited to live and research at Black Panther-founded village Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA, whilst developing her spoken word debut play Runner Girl during her time at Soho Theatre Writers Lab 22/23.
Most recently, Lara was invited by Brixton-based charity Poetic Unity to perform as a poet in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA at Mardi Gras and Ashe Cultural Arts Center, and has performed at Dew Drop Inn, housing the likes of jazz music legends Etta James, Same Cooke and Otis Redding. Whilst in New Orleans, Lara was invited to perform with GRAMMY-winning spoken word artist Tank and The Bangas. Lara’s pen spans international stages, working within respected institutions and sharing stages with renowned artists.
Currently, Lara is writing her second stage play on Nigeria-to-UK migration as developed in Royal Court Theatre Writer’s Group 2025, and co-runs with fellow actor and dear friend Caleb Obediah creative laboratory I L X I A H CIC – the artistic home for multidisciplinary creatives to discuss, workshop and perform original material.
Lara tends to draw on themes of diasporic experiences, mental health and empowerment in her work, and shares this through line as a creative producer and facilitator amongst young people in organisations Poetic Unity, Purple Moon Drama and Artistry Youth Dance.
All in all, the work that Lara is involved in is a true demonstration of her devotion in further understanding her culture and heritage, lived experiences, and communities.