Utopia Theatre, Sheffield – until Saturday 11th July 2026
Reviewed by Claire Moore
4****
I have to be honest, before my invite to view The Swamp Dwellers I hadn’t come across the Utopia Theatre in Sheffield. Speaking to others I was not alone but seems we have all been missing out on something rather special.
Founded in 2012 by Artistic Director Dr Mojisola Kareem, Utopia Theatre has built a reputation for bringing African stories and perspectives to audiences across the UK and beyond. Their productions combine powerful storytelling with thought-provoking themes, creating theatre that not only entertains but also encourages audiences to see the world from a different perspective.
On arrival, you’re guided through curtains into a small but striking performance space designed by Sarah Lewis-Cole. A raised platform sits at the centre, surrounded by walls and ceilings draped in raffia and fabric, making the entire room feel like part of the production rather than simply somewhere to watch it. With an audience of just 50, it creates an intimate atmosphere where you feel completely drawn into the performance.
Directed by Mojisola Kareem, this is the first UK production of the play in over 50 years. It’s hard to believe the play was written by Wole Soyinka in 1958 because the issues it explores still feel so familiar today. Inequality, greed, power and ego all sit at the heart of the story, reminding us that some of society’s biggest challenges haven’t changed as much as we’d like to think.
This one-act play runs for just over an hour and follows an impoverished family trying to survive in the swamps. Nature has not been kind. Floods have devastated their land and crops, turning everyday life into a constant struggle.
Parents Alu (Urielle Klein-Mekongo) and Makuri (Jude Akuwudike) have accepted this as simply the way life is, but their twin sons have left the village determined to build a different future for themselves in the city. One son has been gone for ten years but Igwezu (Joshua Roberts-Mensah) has returned as life in the city has not turned out as planned. Returning home offers little comfort, with the flooded swamps only adding to his despair.
The arrival of a blind beggar, played by Obi Maduegbuna, brings a quiet wisdom to the story. Although unable to see, he understands far more than those around him about the lives they lead and the inequality they simply accept.
Despite having so little themselves, Alu and Makuri offer him food and shelter without hesitation. It creates a striking contrast when Kadiye (Theo Ogundipe) arrives. Dominating the space through both his physical presence and commanding performance, Kadiye is a powerful figure. Worshipped by the villagers, it soon becomes clear that while they struggle to survive, he does not share in their hardship.
The intimacy of the space means every performance has to feel truthful, and the cast rise to that challenge brilliantly, sharing every emotion with honesty and conviction.
Overall, an incredibly powerful performance. It is productions like this that remind you why it’s worth stepping outside your comfort zone every now and then. If you’re in Sheffield, I’d highly recommend taking the opportunity to see it. You may discover a story, a culture or a perspective you wouldn’t otherwise have experienced.