Sleepova

By Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini
A Bush Theatre Production

‘You can’t help but fall in love with this joyous, exuberant show.’ ★★★★ Evening Standard

‘We don’t get to choose when we become women, y’know?’

Join Rey, Elle, Shan and Funmi. Armed with sugary snacks, school gossip, and secret questions they can only ask each other, their sleepovas are 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. Sleepova is an ode to black women, their boundless spirits, and wild dreams. A new Bush Theatre commission from Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini (Little Miss Burden), directed by Jade Lewis (Quarter Life Crisis, Bridge Theatre). 

★★★★ ‘Exhilarating. The genius of this play is its ensemble.’ The Guardian

Sleepova marks the stage debut of three actresses including BAFTA Rising Star Award winner Bukky Bakray (Rocks). Completing the cast are Amber Grappy (HBO’s The Baby), Aliyah Odoffin (BBC’s Everything I Know About Love) and Shayde Sinclair (professional debut).

★★★★ ‘A tonic, whether you’re a teenager or just want to be one again.’ The Times ★★★★ Liam O’Dell
★★★★★ All That Dazzles ★★★★ Rendition
★★★★ Time Out ★★★★ The Stage



Access Adjusted Performances
All performances of Sleepova will be in a Relaxed Environment. This means you are welcome to respond to the show in whatever way feels natural, you can come in and out during the performance and a chill-out space will available in our Script Library.

There are two Sensory Adapted performances, where we keep lights on in the audience area and reduce sensory triggers like loud noises, smoke effects and flashing lights.

There are also Captioned and Audio Described performances scheduled. For more information on access adjusted performances, including Relaxed, Captioned and Audio Described performances, please click here.

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Sleepova Pre-Show Information

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Photo & video

Assistant Director (Placement)
Set and Costume Designer
Dramaturg
Fight and Intimacy Director
Movement Director
Costume Supervisor
Director
Casting
Rehearsal Scribe
All other characters voiced by
Sound Associate
Assistant Production Manager
Company Stage Manager
Writer
Production Manager
Composer
Production Technician
Assistant Stage Manager
Production Dramatherapist
Sound Designer

Cast

Shayde Sinclair
Shayde Sinclair plays Elle. Shayde is presently training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and also makes her professional stage debut in Sleepova. Her voice credits include Phantoms, Visions and Siren Voices (part of a BBC Radio 3 Series).
Aliyah Odoffin
Aliyah Odoffin plays Shanice (Shan). Upon graduating from RADA in 2021, Aliyah was quickly snapped up by Working Title to play one of the leads in Everything I Know About Love, which landed her a Royal Television Society North West nomination in 2022. Her theatre debut in Clybourne Park garnered her fantastic reviews, and most recently she led the cast alongside Alfie Allen in Suffrajitsu, a short film produced by Steve McQueen's production company, Lammas Park.
Amber Grappy
Amber Grappy plays Alfreda (Rey). She trained at LAMDA and spent a large part of her third year working first on HBO's The Baby, playing one of three lead women. She was recently seen in the BBC show Wreck, a slasher-comedy which will return for a second series in 2023. Amber is currently filming One Day for Netflix and Sleepova marks her professional stage debut.
Bukky Bakray
Bukky Bakray plays Funmi. Bukky began her acting career in the breakout indie hit Rocks, directed by Sarah Gavron, in 2020. The film won Bukky several awards including the prestigious BAFTA Rising Star. Bukky starred in the BBC/Netflix series You Don’t Know Me starring Sam Adewunmi which received positive critical acclaim. She will next be seen in The Strays, a Netflix UK Original Film opposite Ashley Madekwe, and Apple TV+ series Liaison, alongside a cast including Vincent Cassell and Eva Green. Her other credits include short films Gospel According to Gail and Self Charm directed by Ella Greenwood. In 2020 she was selected for the BAFTA Breakthrough programme and included in the annual Dazed 100 list. Bukky was named as one of the Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow 2021.

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