When

2020

Summary

Saturn Returns explores the psychospiritual clashes produced in Black people by the weight of history. It explores two notions of circularity: the (modern) psychological understanding of being trapped repeating self-destructive patterns, and, on a spiritual level, the affirming circularity of rebirth along family lineage that is a feature of Igbo mythology, contrasting both with (often corrupted) Christian notions of redemption through suffering, and mystical notions of escaping the constraining mortal (physical) realm through astral projection.

★★★★★

Their dance is organic, the poetry intrinsic, and their connection pure, and it is this that holds them – and those witnessing – together in the space"

The upcoming

★★★★★

“I haven’t watched a choreopoem in a long time with so much movement and connection. It was absolutely beautiful to watch and I look forward to reading the text and seeing the poetry. Absolutely lyrical and fantastically performed. One I’ll be thinking over for a while.”

Audience member

★★★★★

“Thank you so much for this production! Powerful and emotive and reliable. You have captured the quintessential elements of being human within the multi -medium performance. Thoroughly enjoyed it”.

Audience member

Two Black performers, both wearing white tops, hold each other's necks and lean back while looking upwards to the sky. Their body language conveys a powerful sense of trust and vulnerability, framed against a dark stage with warm, ambient lighting that accentuates their movements and the emotional tension between them. Jack Thomson, Saturn Returns 2022

Jack Thomson, Saturn Returns 2022

Jack Thomson, Saturn Returns 2022

Access Information

The show is creatively captioned.

Audio Description script is available

A Tactile Book is available

Easy Read Guides are available.

Support Organisations and Pre/ Post-show care resources available.

A full artist’s access rider and access information available upon request.

Collaborators / Credits

Writer and Director
Sonny Nwachukwu

Movement Director
Ffion Campbell- Davies

Sound Designer
Ffion Campbell- Davies

Performer (Ada)
Rudzani Moleya

Performer (Obi)
Durassie Kiagangu

Lighting Designer
Joshie Harriette

Psychologist
Dr Masuma Rahim

Illustrator
Natalie Cooper

Videographer
Floyd Konde

Video Designer
Ben Glover

Audio Description
by Soundscribe

Access Consultant
Toni Adebajo

Dramaturg and Publisher
John Gordon

Stage Manager
Bethany Gemmell

Producer

Michael Peter Johnson

Tour dates

Part of COLOUR Festival 2022

Saturday, 8 October 2022

Riley Theatre, Leeds

Part of Unlimited Festival

Wednesday, 7 September 2022 - Thursday, 8 September 2022

Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall

Part of the first ever Housemates Festival

Thursday, 21 April 2022 - Sunday, 24 April 2022

Brixton House, Brixton, London

Unlimited Festival Online

Sunday, 17 January 2021

Southbank Centre

Collaborators / Credits

Arts Council England, Unlimited, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Admin, Stanley Arts

Thanks

With special thanks to all involved in the development and presentation of Saturn Returns