Touring Together

Two women are stood against a dark blue background. One woman is facing directly towards the camera. The other woman is stood sideways slightly overlapping the other woman.

Bringing the best new theatre to you.

Touring Together is a new national touring initiative, led by China Plate and Fuel. We’ll be bringing bold stories which shine a fresh light on the world we live in today to stages across the country, in collaboration with Brighton Dome, Leeds Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Warwick Arts Centre.

You can expect to see productions each year, from exceptional artists, which celebrate and explore our heritage as a nation and spark conversations of country-wide significance. First up is Once Upon a Time in Sokoto by Inua Ellams, directed by Roy Alexander Weise, presented by Fuel. Scroll down to find out more and book tickets.

Touring Together is supported using public funding by National Lottery through Arts Council England.

For more information, please contact our Senior Producer Fiona Bradley on [email protected]

Programme & Engagement

Each year, as part of Touring Together, we’ll be bringing a brand-new production to Brighton Dome, Leeds Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, Royal & Derngate Northampton and Warwick Arts Centre. First up:

Fuel in association with Touring Together presents

Once Upon a Time in Sokoto
By Inua Ellams
Directed by Roy Alexander Weise

“There are powers that bind the world together, softer than spirits yet stronger than stone, that tie the river to the tree, the tree to rain clouds, rain clouds to the land, and people to each other.”

The award-winning Once Upon a Time in Sokoto tells the epic story of a beautiful but unlikely friendship forged between an enslaved woman and her former master. Differences in faith, culture and heritage are overcome in the face of new enemies, in a gripping family drama set against the backdrop of events leading to the creation of Nigeria.

Winner of the 2024 Alfred Fagon Award for Once Upon a Time in Sokoto, Nigeria-born Inua Ellams is an internationally celebrated poet, playwright, and artist. He has published four poetry collections, and his plays include the hugely popular and critically acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles (Fuel/National Theatre, UK and International tour) and the award-winning The 14th Tale (Fuel/UK tour) and his retelling of Three Sisters (National Theatre).

★★★★★ “Such an ambitious piece and so life-affirmingly realised. Go.” – The Independent on Barber Shop Chronicles

“This is a work, full of humanity and glancing wit, that one can imagine traveling far and wide.” – The New York Times on Barber Shop Chronicles

In addition to the Touring Together partner venues, Nottingham Playhouse and Bristol Old Vic will also receive the production as part of its UK tour.

Click the next tab to check out the performance dates and book tickets.

Cast

Adeola Yemitan | Nafisa Sarauniya
Antonia Layiwola | Zinari Zangina
Bayo Gbadamosi | Hadiru Zhango
Will Atiomo | Yusef Dawdu

Creative Team

Schools Offer

Recommended for Years 9-11 (and suitable for KS3 and KS4), Once Upon a Time in Sokoto offers a rich stimulus for exploration and conversation in schools, with strong curriculum links to GCSE English, Drama and History.

Schools attending the show will receive a curriculum-linked teacher Resource Pack at no additional cost. Designed to be practical, modular and easy to use across a lesson or half term, the pack includes pre-show activities to introduce the world of the play, post-show activities to support discussion and analysis, and optional extension materials for longer cross-curricular projects.

Find out more about the schools offer here.

28th September 2026 - 10th October 2026 at Royal & Derngate, Northampton
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13th October 2026 - 17th October 2026 at Oxford Playhouse
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29th October 2026 - 31st October 2026 at Nottingham Playhouse
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5th November 2026 - 7th November 2026 at Warwick Arts Centre
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11th November 2026 - 14th November 2026 at Leeds Playhouse
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17th November 2026 - 21st November 2026 at Brighton Dome
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2nd February 2027 - 13th February 2027 at Bristol Old Vic
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We have five Local Engagement Specialists (LES), one embedded in each of the venue locations: Brighton, Leeds, Northampton, Oxford and Coventry. They are our local eyes and ears, connecting communities to our work and the Touring Together programme.

In the lead up to Once Upon a Time in Sokoto going on tour, we are introducing each of the LES:

Banke Adetumbi – Royal & Derngate, Northampton
[email protected]
Read Banke’s blog.

Jenine Martin – Warwick Arts Centre
[email protected]
Read Jenine’s blog.

Rachael Mills – Leeds Playhouse
[email protected]
Read Rachael’s blog.

Tendai Lewis – Brighton Dome
[email protected]
Read Tendai’s blog.

Dan Glazebrook – Oxford Playhouse
[email protected]
Read Dan’s blog.

Our Local Engagement Specialists are looking to connect with schools, youth groups, community centres and grassroots organisations, including societies, clubs & collectives. If you are interested in connecting with your local LES, or finding out more information about what activity will be happening in your area and how you can get involved, please email using the contacts above.

China Plate and Fuel are delighted to have joined forces with Brighton Dome, Leeds Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Warwick Arts Centre, to create a networking of touring venues to make, present and partner with us on this new venture.

Each venue will present each Touring Together production annually, in regular time slots each year – so you know when we’ll be bringing the best new theatre to you! Each venue will have tailor-made activity attached to the production from post-show talks to workshops with local community groups.

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