in partnership with The B-Bar
Malaika Kegode & Jakabol present
Outlier
Ages 14+
“The sky was painfully big, but our worlds were small, our lives little. So when we found each other in the muddle of it all, that feeling of belonging was addictive.”
Mal, Ama, Lewis and Oskar have grown up together; hedonistically charging through life in rural Devon. Living from party to party, they're railing against the stories that have been written for them as they stand at the precipice of adulthood. But all the space can be suffocating, and it’s tough sometimes – feeling so low in a place so beautiful.
The powerful poetics of Malaika Kegode and exhilarating music of Bristol band Jakabol combine with dynamic animation in this moving, autobiographical gig-theatre show directed by Jenny Davies. Genre-defying and hopeful, Outlier explores the impact of isolation, addiction and friendship on young people coming of age in the often-forgotten places.
For people who have been through hardship and people who have come out the other side. Those those who are clinging on to hope. For those who've felt like a complete outsider (an outlier!) to feeling like they have a life.
★★★★★ Stage Talk
★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★ The Stage
Pay What You Decide!
This is a Pay What You Decide event which means you choose what the show is worth to you! You can decide what you would like to pay now by adding a ticket with a value to your cart, or you can pay after you have seen the show at Barbican Theatre (cash or card).
Looking around at other events going on in the city, we estimate that 1 ticket to similar events would cost £16.
There is no ‘right’ answer, we are not attempting to lead you to a specific figure. You can pay this suggested amount, less than this or more than this. You can even pay £0 for your ticket.
Reserved seating is in place
Seats B5 & B7 are wheelchair accessible, if you require these seats please add 'access member' (here) to your account and you will have access to these. Please let us know of any access requirements you may have, including whether you would like the seat removed.
Both rows A & B are level access
If you have any specific access requirements (for example wheelchair access) please leave details in the comment box when placing your order or email our team at info@barbicantheatre.co.uk and they will arrange this for you.
Watch the Live Trailer
Audience guidance / trigger warnings / safe space
Age Guidance: suitable for ages 14+
Emotional / trigger warnings: includes emotionally intense scenes relating to drugs and alcohol, isolation and grief.
Health warnings: flashing lights and haze smoke.
Barbican Theatre is a safe space - safe to be who you are, regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, age, gender, identity, or sexual orientation.
Reviews & Critical Acclaim
★★★★ 'The line between speech and music is seamless' The Guardian
★★★★ 'Holds the audience close' The Stage
"A blisteringly honest account of growing up around nothingness and everything. Bristol 24/7
"Raw, tender and funny" Wheelie Stagey
Tickets
Pay What You Decide!
This is a Pay What You Decide event which means you choose what the show is worth to you! You can decide what you would like to pay now by adding a ticket with a value to your cart, or you can pay after you have seen the show at Barbican Theatre (cash or card).
Looking around at other events going on in the city, we estimate that 1 ticket to similar events would cost £16.
There is no ‘right’ answer, we are not attempting to lead you to a specific figure. You can pay this suggested amount, less than this or more than this. You can even pay £0 for your ticket.
About Malaika & Jakabol
Malaika
Malaika Kegode is a writer, performer and producer based in Bristol. She has performed around the UK at a number of celebrated venues, festivals and poetry events, such as Tongue Fu, Out-Spoken at The 100 Club, WOMAD, Boomtown Festival and BBC at the Edinburgh Festival. She has also worked with a number of organisations including Roundhouse, Historic England and Elstree Studios.
She has been shortlisted for the Out-Spoken Poetry Award, had her work displayed at the Arnolfini in Bristol and has acted as tour support for Saul Williams at The Fleece.
In 2018 she was included in the BME Power List, celebrating Bristol’s 100 most influential black & minority ethnic people.
Malaika has been performing with folk inspired prog-rock band Jakabol since 2018. Together they have performed at music venues and theatre venues alike - bringing a unique and exciting blend of poetry and music to diverse audiences. In 2019 they supported Dizraeli at the Arnolfini.
Malaika’s work tells of how we can find beauty and hope through the darkness. Her overall themes of family, mental health, addiction and love always have an undercurrent of optimism and strength. Her performance style has been described as “filmic” and “musical”.
She has worked as a producer for Roundhouse, Watershed and Strike A Light. She is also the founder and lead producer of Milk Poetry, an organisation that produces innovative spoken word events in a supportive environment.
Malaika also works in film. She is currently an associate curator at Watershed in Bristol alongside Karen Alexander and Adam Murray. She has worked as a programme selector for Encounters Film Festival and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
Her two poetry collections Requite (2017) and Thalassic (2020) were published by Burning Eye Books.
Jakabol
Maz - Violin
Owen - Drums
Emmy - Harp/flute
Joe - Guitar
Luke - Bass synths
Fusing world folk influences with progressive textures and explosive riffs, Jakabol are an experimental music group based in Bristol. Inspired by the cinematic energy of bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, they find chaotic beauty in the dichotomy of their eclectic lineup
Creative & Production Team
Written and performed by Malaika Kegode
With original music written and performed by Jakabol
Directed by Jenny Davies
Produced by Liz Counsell
Co-produced with Bristol Old Vic
Set and Costume Design by Rebecca Wood
Animation and Projection Design by Christopher Harrisson
Lighting Design by Joe Price
Dramaturgy Support by Marietta Kirkbride
Projection Consultant Tom Newell
Vocal Coach Dom Coyote
Covid 19 Safety
The health, safety and comfort of our audiences, colleagues and performers are very important to us.
Before you arrive
We have a number of measures in place to ensure your comfort and safety.
Enhanced hygiene procedures are in place which include thorough cleans between performances and our ReBels training sessions. We have increased the circulation of fresh air throughout the building so it might be cooler than you are used to. You may want to bring an extra layer, just in case. Hand sanitising stations are positioned throughout the public spaces for audience members and ReBels training members to use and we ask that you do so frequently.
We continue to monitor the latest guidance from the UK Government and the team here will continue to wear face coverings in all areas of the theatre.
When you arrive
Whilst we encourage members of the audience to continue to wear a mask we understand that more and more people are making the decision not to so we would like audiences to be aware that people sitting around them may not wear a mask throughout. If you are concerned about this please get in contact with our Audience Experience Manager Robyn who can discus options for seating that will help you feel more safe.
The Barbican team will all wear face coverings / shields (unless medically exempt) and are also regularly lateral flow tested. This includes our practitioners, core team, the team front of house and back stage.
Social Distancing
Barbican Theatre largely programmes one night performances, with a capacity of either 110 or 140. Due to this programming model at present we are unable to offer socially distanced performances. Please get in contact if you would like to discus seating options for any upcoming events and where possible we will find you an area in the auditorium with the most distance for other audience members.
#StaySafe
Venue Info