Ego’s Killing the Mandem, written by Richard Adetunji, a Trybe House Theatre alumnus and associate artist, and performed in January 2026, is a bold and urgent piece of theatre developed with and supported by the company. At its centre, the character Ego is personified and placed on trial in a courtroom, with the lives of young men examined through a lens that draws on the language and structure of the UK’s justice system.
Blending naturalistic dialogue with moments of magical surrealism, the piece is driven by a strong ensemble performance that moves between grounded reality and heightened states. The courtroom framework allows the work to interrogate how ego operates both as protection and as destruction, holding behaviour, choices and consequence up for examination.
Conception
The work originated as a single scene within the piece SWIM, developed through conversations and debate at the National Theatre. Following this, the National Theatre supported the production with a year-long research and development period, allowing the piece to grow into a full production.
Developed through a collaborative process, the cast and creative team worked closely to shape the language, physicality and rhythm of the piece, resulting in a production that feels immediate, precise and thought-provoking.
Staged as part of a sold-out run at Collective Acting Studio during Collective Fringe, the production marked a significant moment for Trybe House Theatre’s creative output, demonstrating the company’s ability to support and platform new writing at a high artistic level.
Academic Impact
Ego’s Killing the Mandem continues to develop beyond its initial run, with further performances and conversations, including presentations at the University of Cambridge and Royal Holloway, University of London. The production stands as a clear example of the company’s commitment to developing original work that speaks to the present moment, while creating space for emerging artists to grow and be heard.
