Leeds Playhouse announces Inua Ellams’ Once Upon a Time in Sokoto for Autumn 2026

Leeds Playhouse and leading arts organisations China Plate and Fuel have today announced the first production to be staged as part of Touring Together, a brand-new nationwide touring initiative in collaboration with Brighton Dome, Leeds Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry.

A commitment to taking new theatre of the finest quality across the country, Touring Together will be led by China Plate and Fuel. The strategic partnership for producing and touring new midscale theatre will bring bold new plays to audiences, creating a robust network of touring venues who will collectively make, present and partner on the work. The initiative is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

The world premiere of Inua Ellams’ (Barber Shop Chronicles) Alfred Fagon Award-winning Once Upon a Time in Sokoto, directed by Ola Ince and produced by Fuel, will open in Leeds Playhouse’s Courtyard Theatre from 11 – 14 November as part of a major UK tour.

Touring Together is a commitment, led by China Plate and Fuel, to producing and touring new midscale theatre that brings bold new plays to audiences. It creates a robust network of touring venues who collectively make, present and partner on the work. The initiative is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Working with exceptional artists to share new work and embrace diverse stories that shine fresh light on the world we live in, Touring Together will present a new show that will tour to all of the partner venues and beyond in autumn 2026 and again in the same timeframe in 2027.

The award-winning Once Upon a Time in Sokoto is the epic story of a beautiful but unlikely friendship forged between a slave 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.

Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director Tom Wright said: “We’re delighted to welcome Inua Ellams back to Leeds Playhouse with Once Upon a Time in Sokoto, his award-winning new play and recipient of the 2024 Alfred Fagon Award. Inua’s previous collaboration with us on Barber Shop Chronicles was a powerful moment for our audiences, and this new work brings the same lyrical energy and bold ideas. As a playwright myself, I know how vital it is for new work to be properly supported. Supporting playwrights and enabling ambitious new writing is central to what we are doing at Leeds Playhouse, which is why being part of Touring Together feels so important. Through our partnership with Fuel, China Plate and many others, we’re proud to help make this new production possible and bring it to audiences across the UK.”

Ed Collier, Co-Artistic Director of China Plate, said: ” This multi-year programme gives us a great opportunity to make new work with national significance, build new audiences and encourage long term theatre-going habits. We’re really grateful to Arts Council England for their support for the programme. Inua Ellams’ Once Upon a Time in Sokoto is a phenomenal play to open the programme and there will be more great work to follow it. We can’t wait to give you more news later in the year. See you on tour in the autumn!”

Kate McGrath, Artistic Director & CEO of Fuel, said: “We know from experience that commitment to relationships with partners and communities over time yields fruit. Touring Together aims to build on existing collaborations to produce new work for wide and diverse audiences, through long-term partnership with venues and extensive engagement programmes around the shows themselves. Touring Together will enable us all to explore new ways of working, and we are actively looking for opportunities to connect and share what we learn. We’re also thrilled that the very first Touring Together show will be the world premiere of Inua Ellams’ new play, which Fuel has commissioned and developed with care and excitement, and we can’t wait to share with the world.”

Once Upon a Time in Sokoto plays at Leeds Playhouse 11 – 14 November. Tickets are available here.