A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Sleepova

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  4w

Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini

“We don’t get to choose when we become women, y’know?” A frank, funny and moving coming-of-age story, Sleepova is an ode to black women, their boundless spirits and wild dreams.

Sleepova

Request licence
Get the Script
  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2024 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre
    Nominee: 2023 Black British Theatre Awards for Best Playwright Award
    Nominee: 2023 Evening Standard Theatre Awards for Most Promising Playwright
    Nominee: 2023 Off West End Theatre Awards (Offies) for New Play

Details

Summary

Join Rey, Elle, Shan and Funmi, who have finally convinced their parents to let them hold their very first sleepova. With sugary snacks, school gossip, and secret questions they can only ask each other, their sleepovas become pretty much a sacred space for them.

As each year tugs them further into adulthood and life doesn’t pan out quite as they imagined, they struggle to hold on to a friendship that they swore would last a lifetime. A frank, funny and moving coming-of-age story, Sleepova is an ode to black women, their boundless spirits and wild dreams.

Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini is an award-winning bionic playwright and screenwriter of Nigerian heritage from London. Matilda’s debut play, Muscovado, won the Alfred Fagon Audience Award in 2015. Matilda’s next play, Little Miss Burden, premiered at the Bunker Theatre in 2019, was a finalist for Best New Play at the Off West End awards and won a Popcorn Finalist Award in 2020. Screen credits include the BAFTA-nominated CripTales for BBC America and BBC4.

History
Sleepova was first produced at the Bush Theatre in London, England on 24 February 2023.
Keywords
FUNMI (Oluwafunmilayo) – she/her, black, starts play age fifteen, of Nigerian heritage.
REY (Alfreda) – she/her, femme, black or black-mixed race, proudly Queer, various ages, plus-size, starts play age fifteen, of Grenadian and English heritage.
SHAN (Shanice) – she/her, black, various ages, starts play age sixteen, of Nigerian and Jamaican heritage, has sickle cell.
ELLE (Gabrielle) – she/her, black or black-mixed race, various ages, starts play age fifteen, of Jamaican heritage.
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting A teenager’s bedroom. 2016-2018.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“Effervescently entertaining.” – The Stage

“You can’t help but fall in love with this exuberant show.” – Evening Standard

“A safe space of erupting energy, girlhood and teenage dreams.” – The Guardian

“A sparky 90-minute play.” – The Telegraph

“A teenage pyjama party that bursts with life.” – The Times

“Exuberant drama.” – TimeOut

“Throughout, Ibini writes with insight and humour conjuring the texture of [the characters’] lives.” – WhatsOnStage

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Sleepova with Author Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini
Matt Law
April 4, 2023

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:
Get the Script

Authors

Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini

Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini
Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter (and occasional dramaturg) from London. She was awarded a scholarship from BAFTA and Warner Brothers to study a Masters in Playwriting &Screenwriting. She was part of the Royal Court Writers Program and was a ...
View full profile

Now Playing