by Sarah Wagner
As children, many of us think of our Mum and Dad as superheroes, swooping in to heal that cut knee, scare away the monsters under the bed, and ensure Father Christmas always delivers right on time. Growing up, it’s a rite of passage for almost everyone to realise that our parents are as human, and often as confused by life, as we are, and that they don’t have all the answers (although they are, annoyingly, almost always right). Nonetheless, the idea that they will be here forever to celebrate the highs and fix the things that go wrong, is something that lingers in our minds well into adulthood.
As children, many of us think of our Mum and Dad as superheroes, swooping in to heal that cut knee, scare away the monsters under the bed, and ensure Father Christmas always delivers right on time. Growing up, it’s a rite of passage for almost everyone to realise that our parents are as human, and often as confused by life, as we are, and that they don’t have all the answers (although they are, annoyingly, almost always right). Nonetheless, the idea that they will be here forever to celebrate the highs and fix the things that go wrong, is something that lingers in our minds well into adulthood.
Created by Nick Makoha, comic lover and acclaimed poet, My Father and Other Superheroes is a brand new play that tells the story of what is means to become a Dad, when old-school heroes like Superman and Luke Skywalker have shaped your idea of what a father figure should be. Inspired by the comics of his childhood and his experiences growing up without a father in Saudi Arabia, Kenya and the UK following his escape from Uganda, the play tracks Nick’s progress as he unpicks his childhood, to discover what it really means to be a Dad in this day and age.
Directed by the award-winning Benji Reid and produced by Nimble Fish, the play is personal, physical and an ode to the importance of comic books in one man’s life. As Nick says “I’m a huge fan of comic books – for me, they’re modern folklore. There are four main heroes in the play and each one represents something different to me. The show represents a true story about my own childhood; there’s very little that’s been tweaked. In many ways it’s a gift to my daughter; she’s the source of the story so it’s something to show her how much she means to me.”
A must-see for all comic book fans, My Father and Other Superheroes received rave reviews and sell out runs at both the Southbank Centre and Unicorn Theatre. Having begun its national tour on 28 January 2015, you can find details for all UK showings here. What’s more, as a special gift, everyone who sees the show will also receive an awesome graphic novel of the play, created by Marvel and DC illustrator Mike Collins, of Batman, Captain America, X-Men and Doctor Who fame!
Feeling inspired and desperate for tickets? You can find out more here, and make sure to check back soon to read our review and exclusive interview with Nick Makoha – all coming soon, on I’m With Geek.
Directed by the award-winning Benji Reid and produced by Nimble Fish, the play is personal, physical and an ode to the importance of comic books in one man’s life. As Nick says “I’m a huge fan of comic books – for me, they’re modern folklore. There are four main heroes in the play and each one represents something different to me. The show represents a true story about my own childhood; there’s very little that’s been tweaked. In many ways it’s a gift to my daughter; she’s the source of the story so it’s something to show her how much she means to me.”
A must-see for all comic book fans, My Father and Other Superheroes received rave reviews and sell out runs at both the Southbank Centre and Unicorn Theatre. Having begun its national tour on 28 January 2015, you can find details for all UK showings here. What’s more, as a special gift, everyone who sees the show will also receive an awesome graphic novel of the play, created by Marvel and DC illustrator Mike Collins, of Batman, Captain America, X-Men and Doctor Who fame!
Feeling inspired and desperate for tickets? You can find out more here, and make sure to check back soon to read our review and exclusive interview with Nick Makoha – all coming soon, on I’m With Geek.
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