Cuckoo, The Unicorn Theatre

The definition of cuckoo: migratory bird which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. In Suhayla El-Bushra’s new play, Cuckoo , Erica is bored. Her life used to be stimulating, exotic, with work trips to Africa and an exciting job. Now, her life revolves around Woman’s Hour and Waitrose – dull days of inane domesticity. Then, one morning, she discovers her daughter’s new friend in the kitchen. Suddenly, life becomes interesting again.

This all sounds perfectly pleasant - but a cuckoo is a threat. It will take over your home (and in Erica’s case, her heart) - a charming bundle of feathers that comes in and wrecks everything. El-Bushra, a former teacher who grew up in the Sudan and north London, is notable for creating complex characters that resonate with feeling; Pigeons, her play at the Royal Court Theatre, performed this summer, was widely praised for its sharp, critical observations of cultural conflicts, layered with wit and warmth but set in unremarkable suburbia.

We imagine Cuckoo will be of a similar vein. Who hasn’t been bored? Who hasn’t missed a more exciting time in their life? Who hasn’t loathed the supermarket? It is a typical part of the human experience – but we are excited to see the detail El-Bushra will bring to the show: the flaws in Erica, an illicit relationship, the minutiae that reveal a dangerous set of circumstances.

Nathan Curry, the Artistic Director of the award-winning outdoor ensemble theatre company Tangled Feet, directs Cuckoo. We are thrilled by Curry’s involvement with Cuckoo because he will bring a unique physicality to the show. The Unicorn Theatre, champion of subversive stories, is an excellent home for this play; book now, before Cuckoo flies away.

Ticket price: £10-£16 (18 years upwards)

Address and Map: 147 Tooley St, London SE1 2HZ

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