• At CPT we are committed to ensuring the best possible experience for all artists, audience members and other visitors to our space. We welcome customers and artists with disabilities and are pleased to assist you in your visit. 

    If you have any questions or enquiries, please do get in touch by phone at 020 7419 4841 or email at foh@cptheatre.co.uk.

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  • Why a Black Woman Will Never Be Prime Minister

    Tue 22 Oct - Sat 9 Nov 7pm (+ 3pm Matinee on 9 Nov)
    Tickets £8 - £15 (+ booking fee) for most performances. Tickets from £5 on Sat 9 Nov 3pm.
    Parties, Trimesters and Labour - a lot can happen in nine months.

    Add another show from CPT's Autumn Season to your basket and get 25% off all your tickets. You might like: The Food Bank ShowThe Spectacular, The Daisy Chain, Politiclowns.

    “This play is intended for two performers but can be performed solo or with a massive ensemble. In other words, f**k the rules and do what you want. The only thing I do request is that the Black woman is played by a Black woman. This is not open for interpretation. Safe.”

    Set over nine months, this piece delves into intersectionality, British politics, and Black women's maternal health. Fusing satire, spoken word, and narrative, Zakiyyah Deen’s debut play directly addresses the real reasons: Why A Black Woman Never Be Prime Minister.

    This show was conceived out of frustration with the lack of attention toward Black women’s maternal health and the increasing f**keries in politics. Zakiyyah extends a special thanks to all workshop participants and all Black mums for provocations, inspirations and conversations. Especially her own mum - without you this wouldn't be possible.

    Watch the trailer.

    Additional features & events

    Post-show Q&A | Wed 30 Oct after 7pm show

    Join Zakiyyah Deen, Kelechi Okafor, and Nina Mdwaba for an inspiring post-show Q&A on politics, pregnancy, and poetry. Explore the play's powerful themes of intersectionality and synchronicity, as they share insights into their creative journeys, storytelling, and how they navigate their worlds as creators and facilitators. Expect an engaging conversation that bridges art and lived experience.

    Extant post-Enhance: Visual impairment accessible performance | Thu 7 Nov

    We invite visually impaired audiences to come along and experience programme notes and touch tour at 6pm before the show. Click here to find out more about this accessible performance. Places on the touch tour are limited so please reserve your spot by booking a free ticket to the 6pm 'Touch Tour Only' event alongside your Why A Black Woman ticket.

    Visually impaired audiences get £7.50 tickets (half price)! Just book an access ticket to the show using the discount code TOUCHTOUR at the checkout.

    ‘Very descriptive and it allowed me to create a visual picture in my head.’ - Touch Tour Attendee

    Babes In Arms peformance | Sat 9 Nov at 3pm

    Join us for a Babes in Arms performance, where parents are welcome to bring babies two and under in a relaxed performance setting. A breakout space will be available for parents.

    Pay What You Can performance | Sat 9 Nov at 3pm

    Pay-what-you-can ticket holders, please note there will be little ones present as this performance is also a Babes In Arms show (See above). Thank you!

    Credits:

    • Cast: Zakiyyah Deen as Shanice Laybá; Ryan Whittle as John Gainsborough
    • Voices: Reda Elazouar voices Rafiq; Gurkiran Kaur voices GP Nurse and News Reporter; Kelechi Okafor voices Auntie and John’s Wife

     

    • Written by Zakiyyah Deen 
    • Directed by Kelechi Okafor
    • Associate Director: Xanthus 
    • Designer: Hazel Low
    • Drama Therapist: Nina Mdwaba
    • Dramaturg: Ellie Fulcher
    • Dramaturgical support: Isley Lynn and Kelechi Okafor
    • Lighting Designer: Jahmiko Marshall
    • Movement Director: Danny Bailey
    • Sound Designer: Khalil Madovi
    • Stage Manager: Danielle Adéyínká-Uche
    • Produced by Sam Edmunds 
    • Associate Producers: Reda Elazouar and Jasmyn Fisher-Ryner
    • Creative Consultant: Lehni Lamide Davies
    • Marketing and PR: Mobius Industries 
    • Social Media Manager: Hannah Ali
    • R&D Director: Kirk-Ann Roberts 
    • R&D Actor and Devisor: Tim Delap

     

    A co-production by Zakiyyah Deen and Camden People’s Theatre supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England. Acknowledgements to seed commissions and original developments with Theatre Deli, Tara Theatre and The Squint Playwriting Award 2023.

    Content Notice
    Running Time 70 mins
    Wheelchair Accessible
    Wheelchair Accessible
    Captioned Performance
    Captioned PerformanceSat 2 Nov, Wed 6 Nov, and the 3pm matinee on Sat 9 Nov
    Relaxed Performance
    Relaxed PerformanceWed 6 Nov
    BSL Performance
    BSL Performance Thu 31 Oct. Interpreted by Hyacinth Powell.
    Assistance dogs welcome
    Assistance dogs welcome
    Touch Tour
    Touch TourThu 7 Nov at 6pm
    Content Notice
    Content NoticeContains sensitive themes such as racial trauma, references to maternal health and mortality, strong language, dark satire and gender inequality. These topics are explored deeply and poetically. They may be distressing for some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. Suitable for ages 14+
    Health Notice
    Health NoticePotential sensory triggers like loud noises and flashing lights.
    "Zakiyyah is a phenomenal performer, who is incredibly exciting as a new writing voice and should be seen by all."
    Claire Gilbert, Producer for BÉZNĂ Theatre and Squint Theatre
    "An exciting and highly promising emerging performer and writer."
    Lauren Mooney and James Yeatman, Kandinsky Theatre Company
    "I look forward to the development of this piece, Zakiyyah’s writing, and to seeing how the world takes to the production at Camden People’s Theatre."
    Jordi M Carter, Former Co-Artistic Director and CEO of Boundless Theatre
    "CPT is thrilled to be working with Zakiyyah Deen. We selected this show for our biggest and most competitive commission, Home Run, because we think it's an extraordinary project."
    Brian Logan, Outgoing Artistic Director of Camden People's Theatre

    Tickets for Why a Black Woman Will Never Be Prime Minister

    Tue 22 Oct, 19:00
    SOLD OUT
    Wed 23 Oct, 19:00
    Thu 24 Oct, 19:00
    SOLD OUT
    Fri 25 Oct, 19:00
    Sat 26 Oct, 19:00
    Tue 29 Oct, 19:00
    Wed 30 Oct, 19:00
    With post-show Q&A. We encourage audiences to purchase the 'Pay If You Can' £20 ticket on this date if they feel able.
    SOLD OUT
    Thu 31 Oct, 19:00
    BSL interpreted by Hyacinth Powell
    Fri 01 Nov, 19:00
    Sat 02 Nov, 19:00
    Captioned performance
    Wed 06 Nov, 19:00
    Captioned and Relaxed performance
    Thu 07 Nov, 18:00
    Touch Tour ONLY - please note you must book a ticket for the performance separately
    Thu 07 Nov, 19:00
    If you would like to attend the Touch Tour, please book this separately
    Fri 08 Nov, 19:00
    Sat 09 Nov, 15:00
    Features: Pay What You Can / Captioned / Babes In Arms
    Sat 09 Nov, 19:00

    Thank you for allowing artists to take creative risks, the world needs it now more than ever.

    Programmed artist