Nine Lives and Come To Where I'm From (Modern Plays) - Softcover

"A blazing new drama about people on the margins of a failing society. Zodwa Nyoni's "Nine Lives" tells the story of Ishmael, a Zimbabwean asylum-seeker who has fled to Britain because he is gay, one of millions of victims of the new wave of extreme homophobia sweeping some African countries. In a fine 50-minute monologue . . . we watch Ishmael struggle with Britain's intrusive and hostile immigration system, catch a brief glimpse of sexual freedom, and form a fragile but hopeful friendship with a young single mum he meets in the park. Nyoni's interweaving of naturalism and poetry is superb, and lifts this show far beyond documentary, into unforgettable solo drama about one of the key experiences of our time." --"Scotsman"

"The device of revealing a life as refracted through the memories of mourners, whose characters are simultaneously revealed through their interactions, can be a cliche . . . Zodwa Nyoni exploits it with sprightly ease and emotional depth. Like another playwright and poet, JM Synge, she grippingly connects a particular situation to the universals of shared experiences through a wonderfully rich, humorous and densely poetic use of language." --"Guardian on "Boi Boi is Dead""

"Gripping, humorous, poetic" --"Oberver on "Boi Boi is Dead""

A blazing new drama about people on the margins of a failing society. Zodwa Nyoni's "Nine Lives" tells the story of Ishmael, a Zimbabwean asylum-seeker who has fled to Britain because he is gay, one of millions of victims of the new wave of extreme homophobia sweeping some African countries. In a fine 50-minute monologue . . . we watch Ishmael struggle with Britain's intrusive and hostile immigration system, catch a brief glimpse of sexual freedom, and form a fragile but hopeful friendship with a young single mum he meets in the park. Nyoni's interweaving of naturalism and poetry is superb, and lifts this show far beyond documentary, into unforgettable solo drama about one of the key experiences of our time. "Scotsman"

The device of revealing a life as refracted through the memories of mourners, whose characters are simultaneously revealed through their interactions, can be a cliche . . . Zodwa Nyoni exploits it with sprightly ease and emotional depth. Like another playwright and poet, JM Synge, she grippingly connects a particular situation to the universals of shared experiences through a wonderfully rich, humorous and densely poetic use of language. "Guardian on "Boi Boi is Dead""

Gripping, humorous, poetic "Oberver on "Boi Boi is Dead"""

A blazing new drama about people on the margins of a failing society. Zodwa Nyoni's Nine Lives tells the story of Ishmael, a Zimbabwean asylum-seeker who has fled to Britain because he is gay, one of millions of victims of the new wave of extreme homophobia sweeping some African countries. In a fine 50-minute monologue . . . we watch Ishmael struggle with Britain's intrusive and hostile immigration system, catch a brief glimpse of sexual freedom, and form a fragile but hopeful friendship with a young single mum he meets in the park. Nyoni's interweaving of naturalism and poetry is superb, and lifts this show far beyond documentary, into unforgettable solo drama about one of the key experiences of our time. Scotsman

The device of revealing a life as refracted through the memories of mourners, whose characters are simultaneously revealed through their interactions, can be a cliche . . . Zodwa Nyoni exploits it with sprightly ease and emotional depth. Like another playwright and poet, JM Synge, she grippingly connects a particular situation to the universals of shared experiences through a wonderfully rich, humorous and densely poetic use of language. Guardian on "Boi Boi is Dead"

Gripping, humorous, poetic Oberver on "Boi Boi is Dead"

"A blazing new drama about people on the margins of a failing society. Zodwa Nyoni's Nine Lives tells the story of Ishmael, a Zimbabwean asylum-seeker who has fled to Britain because he is gay, one of millions of victims of the new wave of extreme homophobia sweeping some African countries. In a fine 50-minute monologue . . . we watch Ishmael struggle with Britain's intrusive and hostile immigration system, catch a brief glimpse of sexual freedom, and form a fragile but hopeful friendship with a young single mum he meets in the park. Nyoni's interweaving of naturalism and poetry is superb, and lifts this show far beyond documentary, into unforgettable solo drama about one of the key experiences of our time." --Scotsman

"The device of revealing a life as refracted through the memories of mourners, whose characters are simultaneously revealed through their interactions, can be a cliche . . . Zodwa Nyoni exploits it with sprightly ease and emotional depth. Like another playwright and poet, JM Synge, she grippingly connects a particular situation to the universals of shared experiences through a wonderfully rich, humorous and densely poetic use of language." --Guardian on "Boi Boi is Dead"

"Gripping, humorous, poetic" --Oberver on "Boi Boi is Dead"