A Music Theatre Wales and FIO co-production

The House of Jollof Opera 

A vegan Nigerian food pop-up served with a 15 minute hip-hop inspired opera.

Chef Adeola is feeling the heat, and we’re not talking pepper soup! With the pressures of a new business, a lockdown baby and an upcoming food safety inspection, how is our budding foodie entrepreneur going to cope?

The House of Jollof Opera is a live pop-up experience serving a Nigerian delicacy (100% vegan) in places of communal gathering across Wales, accompanied by a 15-minute hip-hop influenced operatic story. Take a journey in taste, aroma and rhythms in this one-of-a-kind show.

The show is written and performed by Welsh-Nigerian artist Tumi Williams and also stars acclaimed soprano Gweneth Ann Rand. Directed by Welsh-Indian Sita Thomas, The House of Jollof Opera is a true celebration of modern, multicultural Cymru. Based on a Celtic Film Award-winning short film by the same creators, The House of Jollof Opera was created to shake up and reshape conceptions of opera and live artistic performance as well as address inequities in access to art and culture.

A multidisciplinary artist, Tumi Williams’ first artistic love is music, working in a blend of styles including hip hip, Afro funk and jazz. He is also a chef and founder of Jollof House Party, a pop up serving vegan Nigerian food.

Dr Sita Thomas is a cultural leader and creator based in Cardiff. She is Artistic Director and CEO of Fio, a theatre and arts company that exists to create a significant positive shift in the Welsh cultural sector, supporting Global Majority people to thrive in the arts.

Hip-hop opera: Nigerian street food inspires genre mash-up - BBC News

The Welsh hip-hop opera aiming to break down barriers and asking people to pay what they can - ITV News Wales

Praise for Jollof!

We wanted to share some feedback from people who came to The House of Jollof Opera. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts…

“I loved the mixing of styles, the light and shade, the fact that it was an experience rather than a performance, and the food was great!”

“This made my week. I had no idea what to expect and was so pleasantly surprised. Really lifted my heart - thank you”

“The most exciting/original piece of work I have ever seen”

“It showed the struggles of day to day life”

“I am Nigerian so could relate to this performance. Was absolutely amazing”

“Ingenious, the way that opera combined seamlessly with the hip-hop's musical elements - And great to have an opportunity to try some of the lovely food”

“The music, especially in the kitchen, the fact you got jollof at the end 🙂 interactive with the audience”

“Melting together the everyday and commonplace with the highbrow opera made for a really interesting experience”

“So unusual and good performances. Dancing, singing, Story was really funny - What a thing to think of. Great musicians, too.”

“The fusion of hip hop and opera was inspired. The performers were warm, engaging and humorous.”

“Very innovative and funny. Great idea to combine hip-hop, opera and food”

“Good energy. Fusion of hip-hop and opera was fresh and fun. It had a warmth to it - funny and human. It wasn’t too long. Loved the kitchen & using props as music. Jollof was banging, great accompaniment.”

“The interaction from the performers was great and the food was a great addition to a very modern take on an opera.”

“Loved every minute, please come again & I need this rice recipe!!”

CAST & PERFORMERS

Adeola: Chef Tumi Williams

Sade: Food Inspector Gweneth Ann Rand

Musician Laurence Collier

CREATIVE TEAM

Director Sita Thomas

Design Jasmine Araujo

Assistant Director Tia Camilleri

TOUR DATES

HaverHub, Haverfordwest:
Thursday 16 February, 1.15pm, 3pm, 6pm
Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham:
Saturday 18 February, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm
The Tramshed, Cardiff: > Book tickets   SOLD OUT
Sunday 26 February, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm

Ticket Price: Pay what you can (Wrexham, Cardiff)

Ticket Price: £5 (Haverfordwest)

Full Team & Thank yous

Music co-created by

Tumi Williams with Joe Beardwood, Laurence Collier, Robert Fokkens and Michael Melican

Food Prepared by

Krzysztof Sendlak and Richard Gravelle

A Music Theatre Wales and Fio co-production

MTW is a portfolio company funded by ACW. Fio has received ACW funding to support the development of this piece and community engagement.

MTW wishes to thank Garfield Weston Foundation for core support.

Fio wishes to thank Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council of Wales and Postcode Community Trust for their core support.

MTW and Fio want to thank No Fit State and especially Jo Richmond. Redbrick. Asha Jane. Gareth Thomas, Morgan Thomas and Jo Marsh at Tŷ Pawb, Dave Acton at Larynx Entertainment, Bethan Touhig Gamble, Donna Morris, Belinda Bean and Alys Morgan at Span Arts and Molara Awen founder of Llwy Gariad. Giutti Coats and the staff at Haverhub. Connie Matthews, Claire Sutton and Dafydd Davies at The Tramshed, SSAP, Omonigho Idegun, Grace Gadzama, Iolanda Banu Vegas, Temple of Peace, Torch Theatre, Music Box.

We dedicate this piece with love to Mr Mustapha Adewunmi Williams.

The Team

• Mehdi Razi - Project Manager
• Chama Aimable-Kapumpa - Marketing Consultant
• Blessing Kapswarah - Graphic Design
• Dan Green - Photographer
• Mana Baoosh - Rehearsal Photographer
• Eleri Huws - Welsh Translation

For MTW

• Michael McCarthy - Director
• Åsa Malmsten - General Manager/Producer
• Rachel Kinchin - Communications and Marketing Manager

For Fio

• Emily Carewe - Fio Executive Director
• Tara Turner - Fio Assistant Producer