8 > 15 January 2027 → KVS

theatre, music • fr, surtitling nl, en • 1hr45

Barber Shop Chronicles

Inua Ellams
Junior Mthombeni
Michael De Cock

Junior Mthombeni and Michael De Cock orchestrate a brilliant adaptation of London-based Inua Ellams’ hit play about contemporary black masculinities.

It is the final of the Champions League, and barber shops are bustling in Kinshasa, Ouagadougou, Douala, Dakar, Abidjan and Brussels. As the clippers buzz, thousands of stories are shared. Indeed, for African men and men of African descent, the barber shop is where you can come together and share stories. A true safe space, the barber shop becomes a social place where any subject can be discussed: sports, relationships and education, but also exile, religion and politics.

The open and generous set, with no backstage, recreates the vibrancy of the city: colourful costumes, music and dancing create a festive atmosphere full of energy. But beneath the humour and palpable joy lies the false bottom of a show that is as militant as it is joyful, committed to outlining the contours of a possible brotherhood.

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Season 2025·2026

Information

Presented at KVS, tickets are available through our partner → KVS

Venue

KVS

Duration

1hr45

Language

fr, surtitling nl, en

Cast

Directed by
Junior Mthombeni
Michael De Cock

Text
Inua Ellams

With
Priscilla Adade
Junior Akwety
BATGAME
Hippolyte Bohouo
Martin Chishimba
Salif Cissé
Yoli Fuller
Aristote Luyindula
José Mavà
Jovial Mbenga
Souleymane Sylla
Clyde Yeguete

Adaptation
Junior Akwety
Omar Ba
Caroline Gonce

Collective translation by
Les étudiant·es de Master 1 en Traduction (ULiège) sous la direction de Valérie Bada (Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches en Traduction et en Interprétation)

Set design and lighting
Stef Stessel

Costumes
Marie Lovenberg

Production and music
BATGAME

Artistic collaboration
Caroline Gonce

Dramaturgy
Gerardo Salinas

Assistant director
Mehdy Khachachi

Choreographic advice
Serge Aimé Coulibaly

Technical director
Baptiste Wattier

Lighting manager
Antoine Fiori

Sound manager
Kevin Jaspar

Stage manager
Aristide Schmit

Photos
Stef Stessel

Set construction and costume making
Ateliers du Théâtre de Liège

Production
Théâtre de Liège et DC&J Création

Coproduction
KVS - Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg, MC93 Maison de la Culture de Seine- Saint-Denis à Bobigny, Théâtre de Namur, Théâtre Jean Vilar à Louvain-la-Neuve, Théâtre National de Strasbourg, Le Volcan Scène nationale du Havre, Bonlieu Scène natio- nale Annecy, La Comédie de Valence Centre dramatique national Drôme-Ardèche, TNDM - Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II à Lisbonne, TNC - Teatre Nacional de Catalunya à Barcelone, Lliure –Barcelone, Piccolo Teatro di Milano Teatro d’Europa, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

With the support of
Tax Shelter du Gouvernement fédéral belge, Inver Tax Shelter

With the artistic participation of the Jeune Théâtre National

This production was licensed by The Agency (London) Ltd, 24 Pottery Lane, London W11 4LZ. The Barbershop Chronicles was first produced by Fuel Theatre and the National Theatre (30 May 2017).

The original play Chroniques du Barber Shop by Inua Ellams was published by L’Arche in a collective translation directed by Valérie Bada.

Calendar

Information

Venue

Duration

Language

Cast