Arcola Theatre in association with Maya Ellis presents

Stop and Search

Gabriel Gbadamosi

Directed by: Mehmet Ergen

Arcola Theatre in association with Maya Ellis presents

Stop and Search

by Gabriel Gbadamosi

Directed by Mehmet Ergen

Now playing until 9 February


Where the lines blur between conversation and interrogation. Three conversations grow increasingly uneasy.

A new play by award-winning writer Gabriel Gbadamosi, exploring a time of distrust and our deep ambivalence about the ways we police each other.

‘The play opens the question of why a tactic aimed at policing drugs, violence and terrorism (and that stops seven black people for every one white person) has grown into a flashpoint for wider, and deeper, flaws in a volatile and frightened social psyche.’ (Gbadamosi)

Gabriel Gbadamosi is an Irish-Nigerian poet and playwright. His theatre credits include Eshu’s Faust (Jesus College, Cambridge), Hotel Orpheu (Schaubühne, Berlin), Shango (DNA, Amsterdam); and for radio, The Long, Hot Summer of ’76 – winner of the first Richard Imison Award. Gbadamosi’s novel Vauxhall won the Tibor Jones Pageturner Prize and Best International Novel at the Sharjah Book Fair.

Artistic Director of Arcola Theatre Mehmet Ergen is an award-winning director. His recent theatre credits for the company include Richard III, BlissThe Cherry OrchardDronesBabyDrones, An Enemy of the PeopleThe Cradle Will Rock and Clarion.


Join us after the show…

Jeannie’s Theatre Conversations | Thursday 24 January: a post-show Q&A with the cast and creative team, chaired by Jeannie Farr. Free entry.

Post-show Discussion | Saturday 2nd February (evening): Stop and Search actor Tyler Luke Cunningham will host a panel discussion with Zachary Hing and Jo Clifford exploring the representation of trans* people and artists in UK theatre and media; and the self-generated work looking at how to re-write the narrative.

Relaxed Performance | Wednesday 6 February, 8pm: A relaxed performance is intended specifically to be sensitive to and accepting of audience members who may benefit from a more relaxed environment, including (but not limited to) those with autistic spectrum conditions or anyone with sensory and communication disorders. Babes in arms are also welcome to relaxed performances.