Les Blancs

National Theatre at Home presents

by Lorraine Hansberry
Adapted by Robert Nemiroff
Restored text directed by Joi Gresham

An African country teeters on the edge of civil war. A society prepares to drive out its colonial present and claim an independent future. Tshembe, returned home from England for his father’s funeral, finds himself in the eye of the storm.

Yaël Farber (Mies Julie, Nirbhaya) directs the final play by Lorraine Hansberry (A Raisin in the Sun): a brave, illuminating and powerful work that confronts the hope and tragedy of revolution.

This archive recording was captured by the National Theatre in 2016.

You can watch Les Blancs as part of National Theatre at Home from 2pm on Thursday 2 July on the National Theatre’s YouTube channel, then on demand for one week until 2pm on Thursday 9 July, but you’ll need to start watching by 11:15am on 9 July to see it all.

In memory of Nofenishala Mvotyo, who played friction drum (masengwana) in this production, and was a preserver of the Xhosa culture as well as an ambassador of the split-toned, throat deep sounds that normally echo in the mountains of Ngqoko.

Humane and disturbingly beautiful. An exquisite production. – Daily Telegraph

A searing portrait of the revolutionary spirit. – Evening Standard

Powerful. Jaw-dropping. – Time Out

The streaming performance of Les Blancs begins on July 2nd at 2:oo pm EST time. It will be available until 2:oo pm EST on Thursday, July 9th but you’ll need to start watching by 12:15 am EST time on July 9th to ensure you see it all.