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Until the Flood

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Until the Flood

By: Dael Orlandersmith
Narrated by: Dael Orlandersmith
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About this listen

Until the Flood is the latest riveting Audible Original theatrical event, written and performed by Pulitzer Prize nominee Dael Orlandersmith (Yellowman, The Gimmick, Beauty’s Daughter).

Inspired by extensive interviews following the 2014 shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by white Police Officer Darren Wilson, Orlandersmith gives equal voice and embodies the many faces of a community haunted by injustice in a country yearning for change.

Until the Flood is a tour de force solo performance that explores the dark forces of American history, race, and politics that exploded in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, and sent shock waves across the nation.

The stage production of Until the Flood was commissioned by the Repertory Theatre of St Louis and directed by Neel Keller. Sound design and original music by Justin Ellington. Produced by the Arcola Theatre, London, United Kingdom, in 2019.

Winner of the Scotsman Fringe First Award and the Stage Edinburgh Award.

Warning: This play includes scenes that some listeners may find upsetting. Strong language is used throughout.

©2020 Dael Orlandersmith (P)2020 Audible, Ltd
African American Audio Performances & Dramatisations Drama & Plays Dramatisations Historical Fiction United States World Literature

Critic reviews

“An urgent moral inquest.” (The New York Times)

"Searing and immaculate...superbly performed.” (The Scotsman)

Until the Flood is never less than absorbing - and frequently illuminating.” (The Independent)

All stars
Most relevant
Brilliant work. The personal viewpoints go to the heart of how racist systems still survive.

Not to be missed

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Incredible performance, of people's different inner turmoils. The level of hatred by some is sad.

Stunning and heart breaking

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I would love to give this the review it deserves but my words don’t feel enough. The words and performance, the pace, were great. A story built with conflicting views, not stereotypical, some surprising. As I listen, the barbers perspective will not be lost on me. Listen more. Thank you.

Wow

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This is way out of my comfort zone for reading. I am trying to expand my experiences.

Dael Orlandersmith transforms into all of her own characters within this play. She explores their reactions to the 2014 shooting of black teen Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson.

Really unearths the ugly truths about race in the United States.

A short but good play

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This was beautifully written and performed a must listen. I felt as though I was part of the story.

Amazing!

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