Client details
© Brian Would
Bola Agbaje
Writer
Agent
| Giles Smart |
About
Bola is a playwright who graduated from the young writers programme at the Royal Court in 2007. Her first play GONE TOO FAR! was selected to be performed as part of the Young Writer Festival and was performed at the Royal Court Theatre (Upstairs) in February 2007. In 2008 the play won the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliated Theatre, The play was revived in 2008 and returned for a run in the main Downstairs space at the Court, as well as at the Hackney Empire and Albany Theatre. Bola was also nominated for the Evening Standard Most Promising Playwright of the Year in 2008. Her newest play, BELONG, will play at the Royal Court this Spring in a co-production with Tiata Fahodzi. Bola's writing has been presented by the Royal Court Theatre, ATC, Tiata Fahodzi, Hampstead Theatre, Soho Theatre, Young Vic, Talawa and Cardboard Citizens to name a few. Bola is under commission to 20 Stories High and Ludere Productions. She is also developing GONE TOO FAR! into a screenplay with Poission Rouge Pictures and the BFI. |
Gallery
BELONG (published by Methuen Drama) 
WOMEN, POWER & POLITICS (published by Nick Hern Books) 
OFF THE ENDZ (published by Methuen Drama) 
NOT BLACK AND WHITE (published by Methuen Drama) 
GONE TOO FAR! (published by Methuen Drama)
In Development
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GONE TOO FAR! | Poisson Rouge Pictures / UKFC | Screenplay version of her play |
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BELONG (2012) | Tiata Fahodzi / Royal Court Theatre - Jerwood Theatre Upstairs | Directed by Indhu Rubasingham Election lost, speeches made and controversy stirred – Kayode’s hiding. He’s not even answering the door to the cleaner, and Rita is not going to start getting out the Hoover in her designer heels. Escaping the political heat in London he flees to Nigeria – a British MP and a self-made man. Once there, he gets caught up in a whole new power game. Published by Methuen Drama |
| CLIMATE WEEK PLAY IN A DAY (2012) | Climate Week / Arcola Theatre | |
| THREE BLIND MICE (2011) | Cardboard Citizens | Directed by Tony McBride |
| GIRL GANGS (2011) | Ludere Productions | |
| PLAYING THE GAME (2010) | Tricycle Theatre | Directed by Amy Hodge Part of the WOMEN, POWER AND POLITICS season Election time. The Students' Association needs a new President, and Akousa's achingly cool flatmates are certain she is perfect for the position. How can they persuade her, and how much is she willing to compromise? Published by Nick Hern Books |
| MY TERRITORY (2010) | Soho Theatre | Reading directed by Kola Oluwole Part of the STONECRAB ORIGINS season A play about borders, space and territory. |
| OFF THE ENDZ (2010) | Royal Court Theatre - Jerwood Theatre Downstairs | Directed by Jeremy Herrin David, Kojo and Sharon grew up on a London estate. Now in their mid 20s, they're eyeing another kind of life. But how do you choose theright path when temptation lies around every corner? if you're emotional or financial debt is sky high, how do you buy your way out? Bola Agbaje's smart, savvy second play for the Royal Court asks whether being out of the system might be just as good as being in it. Published by Methuen Drama |
| DETAINING JUSTICE (2009) | Tricycle Theatre | Directed by Indhu Rubasingham Part of the NOT BLACK AND WHITE season (appearing alongside pieces by Roy Williams and Kwame Kwei-Armah) Justice is locked in a cold dark cell, his asylum application pending. His sister Grace would like to help, but has been told to leave it in God's hands. Government Prosecutor Mark Cole has an infallible reputation for successful prosecutions- however he has had a change of heart - and job. His first case is for the defence of Justice - but, in his new role, is Cole the man to help? The cloud of recession looms, unemployment rises, and the fight to remain is tougher than ever. Published by Methuen Drama |
| ANYTHING YOU CAN DO (2009) | Soho Theatre | Directed by Lisa Goldman, Esther Richardson Short play for EVERYTHING MUST GO season at Soho Theatre |
| GONE TOO FAR! (2008) | Royal Court Theatre - Jerwood Theatre Downstairs | Directed by Bijan Sheibani Return of 2007 production |
| IN TIME (2008) | Tiata Fahodzi / Eastern Angles | Directed by Femi Eelufowoju, Jr. Part of Tiata Fahodzi's TIATA DELIGHTS, Almedia Theatre Two young lovers are forcibly separated. Years later their children from subsequent marriages meet and fall in love. Will pain and hatred from the past stalk a new generation? |
| GOOD NEIGHBOURS (2008) | Talawa Unzipped / Young Vic | Reading Two neighbours at war with each other after a dispute about parenting skills. |
| LEGEND OF MOREMI (2008) | Tiata Fahodzi / Theatre Royal Stratford East | Directed by Femi Eelufowoju, Jr. Part of ALL AFRICAN STARS 2008 5 min monologue written for Cathy Tyson about the Legend of the Yoruba Heroine Moremi Ajasoro |
| OFF THE ENDZ (2008) | Royal Court Theatre | Reading directed by Dominic Cooke Part of ROUGH CUTS Kojo and Daved want off the Endz but go through different routes to achieve it. |
| RIVERS RUN DEEP (2007) | Heat&Light / Hampstead Theatre | Directed by Eric Epin Written for Hampstead Youth Group (16 - 18 yr young actors) |
| REAP WHAT YOU SOW (2007) | ATC Productions / Young Vic | Reading directed by Lydia Ziemke PLAY SIZE for ATC Productions 20 min reading based on Yoruba myths and characters inspired by the play THE BROTHERS SIZE by Tarell Alvin McCraney. |
| SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD (2007) | Royal Court Tent at Latitude Festival 2007 | Reading directed by Vicky Jones 10 min play inspired by the song |
| GONE TOO FAR! (2007) | Royal Court Theatre - Jerwood Theatre Upstairs | Directed by Bijan Sheibani Nigeria, England, America, Jamaica; are you proud of where you're from? Dark skinned, light skinned, afro, weaves, who are your true brothers and sisters? When two brothers from different continents go down the street to buy a pint of milk, they lift the lid on a disunited nation where everyone wants to be an individual but no one wants to stand out from the crowd. Bola Agbaje's comic, astute new play about identity, history and culture depicts a world where respect is always demanded but rarely freely given. * Laurence Olivier Award - winner: Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliated Theatre Published by Methuen Drama |
Radio
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10 LESSONS IN LOVE (2010) | BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play | Produced by James Robinson |
Short Films
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| THE LAST PIECE (2010) | Directed by John Dayo Co-written with John Dayo Shortlisted for the Babelgum Online Short Film Award | |
| M. ARCHER (2009) | Directed by John Dayo | |
| BELIEVE (2009) | Directed by John Dayo |
Further Information
AWARDS
Runner-up for Best Narrative for THE LAST PIECE - Babelgum Online Film Festival (Apr 2010)
Nominated for Evening Standard Most Promising Playwright of the Year (Nov 2008)
Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliated Theatre for GONE TOO FAR! (Mar 2008)
