The Clinic
The Clinic is a fiercely political and lyrical play by "seriously exciting new talent" (Evening Standard) Dipo Baruwa-Etti (An unfinished man, The Yard), written during a twelve-month residency with the Almeida as part of the Channel 4 Playwrights' bursary.
This world premiere, directed by Monique Touko (Fair Play, Bush Theatre), is a tense and transfixing portrait of a woman with a hunger for change, a family on fire and how to rise from the ashes of a broken world.
Wunmi is tired of the fight. When her world collapses, Ore provides sanctuary in her parents’ home - a family of charity workers, therapists and politicians, dedicated to serving their community.
But Wunmi’s presence soon disrupts familiar patterns - cracks start to widen and bad blood thickens. As these pillars of society crumble, Wunmi wonders whether she’s walked into a refuge or a trap?
Reviews
★★★★ ‘Monique Touko’s production so astute, that one’s moment-to-moment experience of the play tends to sweep all cavils aside: Touko should be very proud of her achievement here.’
★★★★ ‘The Clinic is an incredibly well-polished show. The writing is impressive, the cast is great, the set is perfect.’
★★★★ ‘Director Monique Touko’s slick production does justice to the big ideas and varied tone.’
★★★ ‘Monique Touko’s production smartly navigates the whiplash changes of tone while keeping us strapped in for the ride’
‘A gripping and original drama of family tension, activism and mental heath crisis’
★★★ ‘There's a real tension in the writing, brilliantly realised by a production directed by Monique Touko that is sometimes as nerve-wracking as a thriller.’
★★★ ‘Fractious family relationships are well observed in Monique Touko’s slick production at the Almeida.’
★★★ ‘Monique Touko’s darting, funny, production handles these changes of register skilfully and the performances are razor-sharp’
‘Monique Touko’s warm, absorbing, not-to-be-missed production.’