Photography by Toyin Dawudu. Designed by ChillCreate.

STARS: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey

5 June-28 June

Meet Mrs: an old lady who goes into outer space... in search of her own orgasm.

A Tamasha and Brixton House co-production

Description

By Mojisola Adebayo
Directed by Gail Babb

“Free your behind and your mind will follow!”

Winner of ‘Best New Play’ at the Offies 2024, STARS is the hilarious and moving new play celebrating Black and Queer empowerment and arousal.

Meet Mrs: an old lady who goes into outer space… in search of her own orgasm. Performed by one woman and a live DJ, with projected animations, travel with a woman in search of her lost orgasm, spanning across outer space, with dustings of African mythology and folklore in an unabashedly Queer, intersex and feminist rallying play. Featuring music by Sun Ra, Jamila Woods, Floating Points, and more.

STARS: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey is the critically acclaimed sensitive and joyful show about desire, touch and reclaiming your pleasure. Join us late night as the theatre transforms into a celebratory club night after the show on selected performances, with multiple DJs and accessible for all (18+).

A “concept album on stage”, the experimental and expansive STARS is written by internationally acclaimed theatremaker, artist and Alfred Fagon award-winner, Mojisola Adebayo (Family Tree (Actors Touring Company), Moj of the Antarctic: An African Odyssey (Lyric Hammersmith), Muhammad Ali and Me (Ovalhouse), Oranges and Stones (Ashtar Theatre, Ramallah), Desert Boy (Albany Theatre), I Stand Corrected (Artscape, South Africa), The Interrogation of Sandra Bland (Bush Theatre), Wind / Rush Generation(s) (National Theatre) and Nothello (Coventry Belgrade). 

Originally produced by Tamasha and The Institute of Contemporary Arts.

★★★★★
The Stage

★★★★★
All That Dazzles

★★★★★
To do list

★★★★★
Lost in Theatreland

★★★★★
West End Best Friend

★★★★★
StageTalk Magazine

★★★★
The Times

Debra Michaels as Mrs

Debra trained at Webber Douglas. Theatre credits include: Sister Sandrine/Marie in The DaVinci CodeVernice in Strange Fruit (Bush Theatre); The Empress in Aladdin (Milton Keynes); Maria in Man of La Mancha; Mrs Alexander/Various in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre/UK Tour); Manny/Myrtle in Red Snapper (Belgrade Theatre); Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith); Sadista in Sleeping Beauty (The Northcott Theatre); Mama Morton in Chicago; The Mother in Catwalk (The Tricycle); Carmen in Carmen Jones (Old Vic/European Tour) directed by Simon Callow; Porgy and Bess (Glyndebourne/Covent Garden) directed by Trevor Nunn; Barnum; Little Shop of Horrors; Soul Train; Cinderella; Tricksters’ Payback; Jeckyll and Hyde, Four Note Opera; Midsummer Nights Dream and The Bottle IMP

Television work includes: Mrs Olatunji in Casualty; Justine Simpson in Eastenders (BBC); Headmistress in Broken (LA Productions) directed by Ashley Pearce/Noreen Kershaw; Doctors (BBC); Holby City (BBC); The Lodge; The South Bank Show Special; The Real McCoy; The Laurence Olivier and Evening Standard Awards and Rites.   

Debra has worked as a Musical Director on The Wiz (Riverside Studios) and Singing Bridges (LWT), and as vocal coach on McDonalds Our Town Story (The Dome). She also co-created and choreographed The Wedding Dance which received it’s premiere at Bolton Octagon prior to a tour.

Bradley Charles as Michael Manners / DJ

Bradley Charles is a DJ, performer, and dancer. Recent credits include Sylvia (Old Vic), In the Willows (Metta Theatre), and MOVE IT 2022 with FLAWLESS Dance Company. His stage credits also include roles at theatres including the National Theatre, Barbican, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Sadler’s Wells, Peacock Theatre, and Bristol Old Vic and with companies including Boy Blue Entertainment, Impact Dance, and ZooNation. He was Artistic Director of ZooNation Youth Company from 2019 – 2021 and is currently the company’s mentor and wellbeing officer. He was Dance Captain for the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony ‘Thanks Tim’ and Associate Choreographer for Hex (National Theatre).  

Bradley is a DJ in the UK and internationally, including being resident DJ for Acting Up, Lovers and Friends and UDO Dance Competition, at events for Newham Council including The Mayor’s Showcase festival (Central Park) and Bike fest (Barking Park), and as part of The 3D Network. 

Writer Mojisola Adebayo
Director Gail Babb
Original Direction Gail Babb and S.Ama Wray
Musical Direction and DJ Mixes Debo Adebayo
Designer Miriam Nabarro
Animation Artist Candice Purwin
Lighting Designer Nao Nagai
Video Consultant Gillian Tan
Creative Captions Stephen Lloyd
Production Manager Josephine Tremelling

Performances

Tickets: From £16
Recommended age: 14+
Thu 05 Jun 7:30pm
Preview
Fri 06 Jun 7:30pm
Preview
Sat 07 Jun 2:30pm
Preview
Sat 07 Jun 7:30pm
Preview
Mon 09 Jun 7:30pm
Press Night
Tue 10 Jun 7:30pm
Wed 11 Jun 7:30pm
Thu 12 Jun 7:30pm
Fri 13 Jun 7:30pm
Sat 14 Jun 2:30pm
Sat 14 Jun 7:30pm
Tue 17 Jun 7:30pm
Touch Tour (18:00)
Wed 18 Jun 7:30pm
Thu 19 Jun 7:30pm
Fri 20 Jun 7:30pm
Sat 21 Jun 2:30pm
Sat 21 Jun 7:30pm
Tue 24 Jun 7:30pm
Touch Tour (18:00)
Wed 25 Jun 7:30pm
Thu 26 Jun 7:30pm
Fri 27 Jun 7:30pm
Sat 28 Jun 2:30pm
Sat 28 Jun 7:30pm