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Possession

  • Sasha Hails
  • Full Length Play, Drama, Victorian (British and American), Contemporary
  • 2M, 3F
  • ISBN: 9780573000270

Possession is a tale about desire. About owning and being owned. About colonising and being colonised. And ultimately about the power of the spirit to escape oppression.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: Victorian (British and American), Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult

  • Accolades:
  • Nominee! Stage Debut Award for Best Writer (2023)
Four mother’s lives interweave across continents and time… Kasambayi, recently arrived in the UK from the Democratic Republic of Congo, starts her contractions on the number 38 bus at Clapton Pond, and gives the final push at Victoria. She names her daughter Hope – hope for their new life, hope for their future.

Once Hope is fully grown, her path crosses with Alice, a foreign correspondent with a particular interest in the latest mineral tormenting the DRC: cobalt. But will their budding friendship threaten the safety that Kasambayi has so carefully built for them in London?

Meanwhile Alice Seeley-Harris, a Victorian missionary wife in King Leopold’s Congo has a horrible sense that history is repeating itself.

Possession is a tale about desire. About owning and being owned. About colonising and being colonised. And ultimately about the power of the spirit to escape oppression.
REVIEWS:

"Maze-like and splendid."

 The Stage

"A rich play bursting with ideas."

 The Reviews Hub

"Thoughtful."

 British Theatre Guide

"A seamlessly expressive, informative, funny, touching and anger-inducing play."

 London Box Office

"Possession is a tapestry of memories, an informative and fascinating story, and a beautiful character study."

 The Spy in the Stalls

Premiere Production: Possession was first performed on 15 June 2023 at the Arcola Theatre, London.

Characters

  • Casting: 2M, 3F
  • Casting Attributes: Role(s) for Black Actor(s)

  • Present Day
    HOPE — 19, Black British Congolese girl. Kasambayi's daughter.
    KASAMBAYI — 40ush, Black Congolese, first generation immigrant. Hope's Mother.
    ALICE YOUNG — 41, White, foreign correspondent.
    JOHN DENT — 49ish, White, foreign correspondent.
    DAVID, GEORGE'S FATHER — 16
    DAVID — 22, Hope's lover
    GEORGES — 22, Hope's son
    BUS DRIVER, PARTY GIRL, YOUNG GYM BOY, MORGUE ASSISTANT, CHAIR, LECTURE HALL ASSISTANT

  • 1900
    ALICE SEELEY HARRIS — 30s, English missionary wife.
    JOHN HARRIS — 49, English missionary.
    NSALA — 22, Congolese man.
    MERCY — 13, Congolese girl

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Possession Script This is optional. Order Now

    Four mother’s lives interweave across continents and time… Kasambayi, recently arrived in the UK from the Democratic Republic of Congo, starts her contractions on the number 38 bus at Clapton Pond, and gives the final push at Victoria. She names her daughter Hope – hope for their new life, hope for their future.

    Once Hope is fully grown, her path crosses with Alice, a foreign correspondent with a particular interest in the latest mineral tormenting the DRC: cobalt. But will their budding friendship threaten the safety that Kasambayi has so carefully built for them in London?

    Meanwhile Alice Seeley-Harris, a Victorian missionary wife in King Leopold’s Congo has a horrible sense that history is repeating itself.

    Possession is a tale about desire. About owning and being owned. About colonising and being colonised. And ultimately about the power of the spirit to escape oppression.

    		$24.95

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