BAFTA NOMINEE YOLANDA MERCY EMBARKS ON A FULL UK TOUR OF HER AWARD WINNING SHOW
FAILURE PROJECT
INCLUDING 3 WEEK RUN AT SOHO THEATRE IN MAY
Following a critically acclaimed and sell out Edinburgh Fringe in 2024, BAFTA nominee Yolanda Mercy is touring her self-penned work Failure Project across the UK including Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate on the 13 May, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh on 15+16 May, Soho Theatre, London from the 27 May to 14 June and the Norwich Theatre Stage Two on 20 June with a press night to take place on the 29 May at Soho Theatre, London.
Failure Project is a one woman show written, directed and performed by Yolanda Mercy and co-directed by Joseph Barnes Phillips, telling the raw and comedic story of a writer whose career takes off, just as everything else falls apart – exploring what it means to fail and how to rebuild.
Yolanda Mercy, writer, director and performer said: “I make work that holds up a mirror to the lives we hide — centering joy, grief, and identity in ways that let underrepresented voices take centre stage. My art is a love letter to those who rarely see themselves reflected.”
Failure Project won multiple awards including the BESTIE award and Summerhall’s Meadows Awards at Edinburgh Festival 2025 and was also nominated for an Offie Award in 2025.
Additionally, there is a Q+A that will take place on the performance on the 7 June at Soho Theatre on finding resilience to keep making art with dramaturg Jules Haworth.
Previous notable projects for Yolanda Mercy include writing and directing Quarter Life Crisis, winner of Underbelly’s Untapped Award and selling out at Bridge Theatre, Soho Theatre and being performed on BBC 1XTra.
She has been named by the British Council as an Artist to Watch, was commissioned by Netflix, BBC and Channel 4 to write Queenie and was nominated for a BAFTA for her work creating and writing BBW on Channel 4.
Finally, as a black writer herself, she is passionate about providing new opportunities for other artists; she is a board member of Kinetico Bloco, and was the leader of Black Writers Collective. She is now producing artists to create opportunities for others, her first show Love Me Like a Chai Latte by Sanjay Lago will be premiered at Edinburgh Festival later this year.
Yolanda Mercy presents
Failure Project
Written, performed and Co-Directed by Yolanda Mercy
Co-Directed by Joseph Barnes Phillips
Writer, Performer & Co-Directed by Yolanda Mercy; Co-Directed & Dramaturg Joseph Barnes Phillips; Sound Design by Mikaiyiri; Dramaturg by Jules Haworth
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Failure Project is a raw, funny, and heartfelt exploration of what it truly means to “fail”—and how we rebuild from it.
Following her critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival, BAFTA nominee Yolanda Mercy returns with her bold new show, Failure Project.
Meet Ade—a writer who seems to have it all. Her career is taking off, she’s finally out of her mum’s house, and even her situationship is (mostly) under control. But just when life seems perfect, things start to unravel.
Failure Project is a raw, funny, and heartfelt exploration of what it truly means to “fail”—and how we rebuild from it. Ade’s journey is filled with humour, vulnerability, and unexpected twists that will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever hit a setback and found their way through.
Don’t miss this relatable and inspiring new work that will leave you laughing, reflecting, and rooting for Ade every step of the way!
Winner of the BESTIE award for “Solo performance” at Edinburgh fringe 2024
Sat 7 June (30 mins): Q&A- Creative Hustle. In these challenging times, how do you find resilience to keep making art? Q&A with writer-performer Yolanda Mercy and dramaturg Jules Haworth.
Yolanda Mercy performs, writes and directs. Her Theatre Credits include Bin Gal Tings (ATYP/British Council – writer/director), Supper Club Current (Arc Stockton – writer/director), The Lies You Tell (Film4/Hightide – writer), Who Prays For The Preacher (Soho Theatre – writer), Quarter Life Crisis (Bridge Theatre, International Tour – writer, performer), On The Edge (UK Tour – writer, performer). Her television credits include Queenie (Channel 4/Disney – writer), BBW (Channel 4 – BAFTA nominated writer and creator).
Jules Haworth dramaturges Failure Project. Jules is a queer and disabled Dramaturg and Access Support Worker, with a focus on supporting and developing emerging writers and artists. Jules is Creative Engagement Associate at Soho Theatre, co-running the Writers’ Lab programme and programmes the Soho Rising festival. Jules has run playwriting workshops and talks with Talawa Theatre, Graeae, Rich Mix, LGBTQ+ Arts, Sour Lemons, Gendered Intelligence, G5A Mumbai, Traverse Theatre, Live Theatre, National Youth Theatre, Somerset House, Wales Millenium Centre and in schools and colleges across London. As a dramaturg, Jules has worked on award-winning plays including Brute (Underbelly), Muscovado (Theatre 503 and tour) Villain (Underbelly, Kings Head Theatre), On the Edge of Me (Soho Theatre and UK Tour), Quarter Life Crisis (Soho Theatre and international Tour), Wonderboy (Bristol Old Vic, UK tour), Dust (Soho Theatre, Trafalgar Studios), Algorithms (Pleasance, Soho Theatre, Park Theatre), Little Miss Burden (Bunker Theatre) and First Love (Soho Theatre). Jules also co-runs the networking group Theatre Queers and is a board member for Milk Presents. Her play Pigeon Steps was longlisted for the Adrian Pagan Award 2014.
Joseph Barnes Phillips co-directs. Joseph’s work as Co-artistic Director for HighRise Theatre and All Seeing Eye has seen him in collaboration with Cardboard Citizens, The Arcola, artsdepot, The Yard, Ovalhouse and more. Joe is also an actor and practitioner who works tirelessly in the community to uplift those around him as well as aiding them in overcoming their personal demons through the use of drama. This passion for helping people has led him into some extremely green pastures, within the last couple of years working as Young Company Director at Orange Tree Theatre, Croydon Council, London Bubble Theatre, Soho Theatre, Centre Point, We are Spotlight and more
About Yolanda Mercy
Yolanda Mercy is an Award Winning British Nigerian Writer and Performer for Screen, Stage and Audio; who works nationally and internationally. She has worked on projects in 8 countries and across 3 continents, which has gained her international recognition for her work.
Named Artist to Watch by the British Council, part of the BFI x BAFTA mentoring scheme under the guidance of Anne Mensah and a winner of the prestigious channel 4 Playwright award, Yolanda is carving out a career across a variety of mediums. Her writing has featured in Huffington Post. She is a published author with Bloomsbury Books for her award winning play Quarter Life Crisis, and with Nick Hern Books for her award winning play Failure Project.
Her productions have been described as “relatable, funny and very honest”. Comedy, music and audience participation are the key ingredients that make up her unforgettable live shows. Previous clients/collaborations have included: Disney, Channel 4, The Bridge Theatre, Soho Theatre, BBC, The Tate, ATYP, Somerset House and The British Council.
Listings
Failure Project
Harrogate Studio Theatre
Oxford Street, Harrogate
HG1 1QF
Tuesday 13 May, 7:45pm
Tickets £14
Age 14+
Running time 75 minutes
Failure Project
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge St,
Edinburgh
EH1 2ED
Thursday 15 May, Friday 16 May, 8:00pm
Tickets: Full Price: £15, Concession: £12, Students & U30s: £10, Low Income Benefit Recipient: £5
Age 14+
Running time 75 minutes
Failure Project
Soho Theatre, London
21 Dean St, London W1D 3NE
Tuesday 17 May – Saturday 14 June, 6:45pm.
Tickets: £11-£20
Age 14+
Running time 75 minutes
https://sohotheatre.com/events/failure-project/
Failure Project
Norwich Theatre Stage Two
Chantry Rd, Norwich
Norfolk
NR2 1RL
Friday 20 June, 7:45pm
Tickets: £17.50
Age 14+
Running time 75 minutes
https://norwichtheatre.org/whats-on/failure-project/