Image of a Black woman’s face, partly covered in sparkling glitter. She intently and blankly gazes outside the frame. The background is filled with gentle water waves in light shades of blue and purple.

Touring now

VX presents

…blackbird hour

With a secondary title

Written by babirye bukilwa

Directed by malakaï sargeant

Nov 2026

Section: About

… blackbird hour is a visceral and moving exploration of a queer Black woman’s call to arms for loving oneself when love has made itself scarce. Making its world premiere at the Bush Theatre, babirye bukilwa’s profound insight into caring and belonging serves as a continuation of their critically acclaimed playwriting debut …cake (Theatre Peckham).

Finalist for the Bruntwood Prize, Women’s Prize for Playwriting, and the Alfred Fagon Award

Touring soon

Nov 2026

Booking & venues

“This love word. Do people just use it when they feel sorry?”

Eshe hasn’t left the flat.

Loved-ones keep reaching out: blowing up her phone and showing up at her front door. They say they’re going to “save” her. She’s not saying anything back.

Until, in the dark early hours, surrounded by half-eaten food, dirty washing and a damn good playlist, she focuses on the letter in front of her.

Two people sit up on a bed: A Black woman, with long dreadlocks pulled back and light blue glitter on her cheek, and a Black man wearing a sleeveless undershirt with his arm around her. They tenderly look at each other. Behind them, wavy patterns of blue and off-white are projected on the wall in the background
Section: Gallery & Media

Production photos

Two people sit up on a bed: A Black woman, with long dreadlocks pulled back and light blue glitter on her cheek, and a Black man wearing a sleeveless undershirt with his arm around her. They tenderly look at each other. Behind them, wavy patterns of blue and off-white are projected on the wall in the background
Two people stand in space intensely facing each other. On the left is a Black woman with long dreadlocks, in a bright red short-sleeved cardigan. On the right is a Black man wearing a sleeveless undershirt.
A Black woman with long dreadlocks pulled back sits up on a bed. She is wearing a dark blue nightshirt. She stares to the right, and has an expression of befuddlement. A green icon of a phone ringing is projected on the wall behind her.
A Black woman with long dreadlocks sits on a bed. Next to her, a Black man wearing a light grey tracksuit with his arm around her. She looks away from him, with an expression of agitation.
A Black woman sits at the corner of a messy bed and stares inside of an open white box on her lap.
Evlyne Oyedokun as Eshe in …blackbird hour. Photo by Seye Isikalu.

Rehearsal images

Image of a Black woman’s face, partly covered in sparkling glitter. She intently and blankly gazes outside the frame. The background is filled with gentle water waves in light shades of blue and purple.

Audio example

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Section: Dates & Booking

Booking & Venues

Tours xy

Upcoming performances

Past performances

Section: Access & Wellbeing

Access & Wellbeing

All performances will be chilled, and will include integrated creative captions.

Self-care and content

….blackbird hour  sees Eshe in a state of trauma following various traumatic life events – access self-care and warning info below – may contain spoilers.

….blackbird hour  sees Eshe in a state of trauma following various traumatic life events including being bereaved of their mother and the end of their relationship. Over the course of the play she practices problem behaviours including alcohol abuse, prescription medication abuse and smoking cannabis. There is a depiction of an overdose.

A self-care and content information guide has been developed by Bush Theatre. You can download it via their website, or here: …blackbird hour Self Care and Content Warnings Guide

Venue and site specific details in the guide are relevant to the shows at Bush Theatre.

Self-care and content

….blackbird hour  sees Eshe in a state of trauma following various traumatic life events including being bereaved of their mother and the end of their relationship. Over the course of the play she practices problem behaviours including alcohol abuse, prescription medication abuse and smoking cannabis. There is a depiction of an overdose.

A self-care and content information guide has been developed by Bush Theatre. You can download it via their website, or here: …blackbird hour Self Care and Content Warnings Guide

Venue and site specific details in the guide are relevant to the shows at Bush Theatre.

Media title

Section: Acknowledgements

A Vital Xposure production in association Bush Theatre.

Supported by the Talawa Firsts programme. With thanks to the National Theatre.

  • Bush Theatre
  • Ta La Wa