Rite of Passage

Moving to a new country comes with its fair share of surprises, from getting used to unfamiliar customs to figuring out the little things everyone else seems to understand without thinking.

Why does everyone apologise when nothing has happened? Why do strangers thank bus drivers? And how does a grown adult suddenly find themselves questioning everything they thought they knew?

Following a sold-out summer 2026 UK tour across London, Sheffield and Manchester, Rite of Passage returns to Sheffield!

Written and performed by Nigerian actor, filmmaker and Sheffield-based theatre maker Akah Nnani, and directed by Kenneth Uphopho, Rite of Passage is a 75-minute solo performance that explores what it means to find your place in a new country.

With plenty of humour and honest reflections, Akah takes audiences through the everyday experiences, cultural differences and unexpected challenges that come with adjusting to a new environment.

From navigating unfamiliar social customs to questioning your own sense of identity, the play explores experiences that many of us can relate to, whether we've moved countries, started somewhere new or simply found ourselves feeling out of place.

Funny, personal and at times uncomfortable, Rite of Passage invites audiences to laugh, reflect and recognise something of their own experiences in Akah's story.

Performance Information

Running time: 75 minutes, no interval.

Written and performed by Akah Nnani
Directed by Kenneth Uphopho

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.