Adapted by award-winning playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker, and based on the memoir by Amets Arzallus Antia and Ibrahima Baldethis, this production brings to life one of the most moving migrant stories of our time. Recounted by Ibrahima, the man who left home in Guinea, West Africa, to find his little brother, this is a gripping tale of endurance, desperation, and moments of grace, told with stirring honesty and theatrical intimacy.
Under the direction of Stella Powell-Jones, this quietly powerful production invites us to witness the lengths a brother will go to for family, as 15 years old Ibrahima leaves his home in Guinea to search for his younger sibling who has vanished on the perilous migrant trail to Europe.
Blair Gyabaah is remarkable as Ibrahima, delivering a performance of poignant sincerity and resilience. He’s supported by a strong ensemble — Youness Bouzinab, Whitney Kehinde, Ivan Oyik, and Mo Sesay — who fluidly impersonate the many characters Ibrahima encounters on his journey. Through their storytelling, we get a glimpse into the brutal reality of human resilience , the dangers, the desperation and the small moments of grace and hope that lie along the path of migration.
The staging is minimalist but effective, enriched by the sound effects and original music by Falle Nioke, whose West African rhythms and vocals infuse the production with an emotional sense of place and spirit.
Little Brother is not just a theatrical event—it is a testimony, a necessary conversation and a desperation of those who cross the seas, and what they go through to ‘arrive here, walking our streets, past us, silent’. With sensitivity and strength, it gives a voice to the invisible souls with a ‘life that is not that easy to tell’. This production leaves the audience humbled, heartened, and reminded of the powerful life stories that deserve to be heard.
Little Brother is at Jermyn Street Theatre until 21 June 2025. Tickets from £31; everyday 10 tickets for £10 are available for under 30s. More information and booking available on this website.
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