House of Ife

A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

House of Ife

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  3w, 2m

Beru Tessema

In the wake of the sudden death of their eldest son, Ife, one family is forced to confront the traumas they’ve long tried to bury. As the sun beats down on their cramped North London flat, and the head of the family arrives from Ethiopia for the funeral, tensions rise, cultures clash and past betrayals are unearthed.

Image: 2022 Bush Theatre Production (Marc Brenner)

House of Ife

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    105 Minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences

Details

Summary

‘See that’s the problem with this family innit, we never wanna talk real about Ife.’

In the wake of the sudden death of their eldest son, Ife, one family is forced to confront the traumas, they’ve long tried to bury. As the sun beats down on their cramped North London flat, and the head of the family arrives from Ethiopia for the funeral, tensions rise, cultures clash and past betrayals are unearthed.

A tense, funny and explosive drama exploring what it means to belong, and what happens when a family’s secrets shake its foundations.


History

House of Ife premiered at the Bush Theatre, London, in April 2022, under the direction of Lynette Linton. Beru Tessema is an Ethiopian-British writer based in London. His stage play Exile in North Weezy was shortlisted for the prestigious Papatango Playwriting Prize 2020. He began his relationship with the Bush on their Emerging Writers’ Group, and House of Ife was written on commission.

Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

AIDA
TSION
YOSI
MERON
SOLOMON

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting A London flat. The present.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 105 Minutes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A family epic that captures the universal in the specific.” – Evening Standard

“Absolutely terrific.” – Daily Telegraph

“Bereavement unlocks a host of buried conflicts for a British Ethiopian family in Beru Tessema’s richly textured debut play. An actor as well as a screenwriter, he knows how to write cracking dialogue, and his script has the tang of both domestic and urban authenticity.” – Evening Standard

“[A] bubbling, tender story… of grief, family love, cultural clashes and Ethiopian joy.” – London Theatre Reviews

“A funny, warm and tragic play..… A genuinely superb moment of theatre.” – Reviews Hub

“Richly textured and artfully written.” – The Guardian

“Lively and boisterous.” – The Stage

“Tough, compassionate family drama sizzles with tension.” – The Times

“The most vibrant piece of new work I've seen in years.” – WhatsOnStage

Photos

  • House of Ife

    Image: 2022 Bush Theatre Production (Marc Brenner)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Beru Tessema

Beru Tessema
Beru Tessema is a film and theatre maker based in London. He trained as an actor at RADA and as a screenwriter at the London Film School. House of Ife is his debut work for the stage.
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