‘Are we making money today or what?’
Welcome to Jaja’s! This bustling Harlem braiding salon is where neighbourhood women come to have their greatest hairstyle dreams come true, all in the hands of a lively group of West African, immigrant braiders. Across one hot summers day, these women experience everything in the pressure cooker of the sweltering shop: from demanding customers to secrets and lies, laughter and betrayal. But each of these women has big dreams as well, dreams which increasingly pit them against the city they call home.
The UK premiere of this Tony Award-winning comedy reunites the team behind smash-hit School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play in writer Jocelyn Bioh and director Monique Touko.
Reviews
★★★★ “Bioh’s follow-up to School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, is again directed by Monique Touko and has dazzled audiences on Broadway. You can see why: it contains such abundant charm, humour and insuppressible, crowd-pleasing energy that it is hard to be anything but seduced by its radiating warmth.”
★★★★ “Reuniting with director Monique Touko, after working together on School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, Touko once again fills the show with a vibrant, pacy energy. The comedy is not only in the writing, but also within the cast’s physicality – the expressive reactions, interactions and the fun moments of dance between scene transitions. There is a celebration of African culture too, with Afrobeats being played throughout and Nollywood films in the background. Touko creates a joyful and inviting atmosphere, where you can’t help but smile.
★★★★ “Touko’s direction complements Bioh’s book, and that collaboration runs deep throughout the play. Keeping the 90-minute run-time fresh, the jokes come quick with a sitcom-esque comedic timing yet she allows the emotional moments to breathe with warmth and charm.”