Described by The New York Times as “this decade's most eloquent statement on race in America today”, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ extraordinary play transfers to the National Theatre after a sold out run at the Orange Tree Theatre.
In 1859, white Irish playwright Dion Boucicault writes a hit play about America. Today, a black American playwright attempts to do the same.
Both old and new, An Octoroon gleefully remixes a Victorian melodrama into ‘a dazzling deconstruction of racial representation’ (WhatsOnStage).
“Bizarrely brilliant. An extraordinary play that defies categorisation.” The Guardian
“It’s bold, fearless playwriting: laughing in the face of racism as well as allowing the horror of history to spell itself out.” Time Out
“Messy, inspired, invigorating” The Times
A co-production with the National Theatre
The New American Work Programme at the National Theatre is supported by The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Lawton W Fitt & James I McLaren Foundation and Kathleen J Yoh.
Photography (Ken Nwosu) by Sebastian Nevols
