Lulla brings queer folk horror to Omnibus Theatre Clapham

Lulla brings folk horror and queer identity to Omnibus Theatre Clapham this July

A 16-year-old queer girl escapes her parents' control into a surreal dream world guided by a gender-shifting figure called Lady Nightshade. Lulla runs at Omnibus Theatre from 30 June to 10 July, with post-show Q&As and free workshops for LGBTQ+ young people.

Marin is 16, queer and in love. When her parents try to control her she escapes into a dream world where she confronts her deepest desires and nightmares, guided by the mysterious gender-shifting Lady Nightshade and haunted by her childhood lullabies. Lulla, written and produced by Ben SantaMaria and directed by Martha J. Baldwin, is a boldly physical production laced with folk horror and dark fantasy, described by its makers as a poetic and transgressive adventure that explores the pressure to conform and the shame forced upon many young LGBTQ+ people.

SantaMaria recently completed the Paines Plough Tour the Writer programme and the script reached the Verity Bargate Award top 100 longlist. Lulla follows Flaming Theatre's hit UK tour of Really Want to Hurt Me. Baldwin's direction works with physical theatre and surreal imagery to take the audience inside Marin's subconscious, where nothing is stable and everything is felt.

The cast is Anna Marks Pryce as Marin, Madeleine MacMahon as Mum, Gran and Lady Nightshade 2, Meg Walls as Dolores and Lady Nightshade, and Robin Berry as Dad, Dollmaker and Lady Nightshade 3. Set and costume design is by Isabella Van Braeckel, sound by Nat Norland and lighting by Skylar Turnbull Hurd.

Two post-show Q&As accompany the run. On 2 July, Free2B Alliance, a London-based community organisation supporting LGBTQ+ young people and their parents, joins the company. On 7 July, Schools OUT, the charity working towards equality in education for LGBTQ+ people since 1974, takes part. Both are free to ticket holders.

Flaming Theatre is also running free workshops at Omnibus for LGBTQ+ and other young people aged 16 to 25. A creative writing workshop with SantaMaria takes place on 4 July from 11am to 1pm. A movement-based devising workshop with Baldwin takes place on 11 July from 11am to 1pm. Both require advance booking and have limited spaces.

Lulla runs at Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common Northside, SW4 0QW, from 30 June to 10 July.

Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm
Saturday matinee at 2:30pm
Sunday relaxed performance at 4pm
Livestream available on 2 July

Tickets from £10 preview, £20 standard, £18 concessions. Livestream tickets £8. Age recommendation 16 and above.

Book at omnibus-clapham.org.

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