The Rise and Shine of Comrade Fiasco by Andrew Whaley
Gate Theatre, London
Rehearsal & production photos by Michael Shelford
About
Fiasco! Freedom Fighter. Fiction, fake or fact. Comrade Fiasco. The man who came out of a cave, seven years after the fact of independence, the memories of war still clinging to his skull like spoils.
Zimbabwe, 1986. Chidhina, Febi and Jungle are being held in prison after a brawl. A mysterious figure, Fiasco, appears in their cell claiming to be a freedom fighter who has spent many years hiding in a mountain cave, unaware Zimbabwe is finally free from British colonial rule. As the cellmates attempt to piece together Fiasco’s confused experience of the war and journey through his extraordinary story, they must discover if he’s really who he claims to be and confront their own memories of the struggle, to ask: what is the true value of liberation?
Elayce was the winner of the 2014/2015 JP Morgan Award for Emerging Directors, under which she was Resident Director at the NT Studio, and directed THE RISE AND SHINE OF COMRADE FIASCO by Andrew Whaley at the Gate Theatre, London. The production was nominated for 5 Off West End Theatre Awards, including Best Director.
For more information, please visit the Gate's website here.
Creative Team
Director: Elayce Ismail
Writer: Andrew Whaley
Set & Costume Designer: Rosanna Vize
Lighting Designer: Lee Curran
Sound Designer: Richard Hammarton
Assistant Director: Sophie Moniram
Cast
Gary Beadle, Kurt Egyiawan, Joan Iyiola, Abdul Salis
Selected Reviews
...startlingly mercurial and superbly staged by Elayce Ismail. She is deservedly the recipient of this year's JP Morgan Award for Emerging Directors... electrifying.
The Times
Elayce Ismail's compact, muscular production features a superbly dynamic ensemble cast.
TimeOut
... a strong production by Elayce Ismail... acted with total conviction.
Guardian