A bold reimagining of Macbeth set in 19th-century Yorubaland
Crown of Blood is a powerful new stage production from Sheffield Theatres and Utopia Theatre, written by Oladipo Agboluaje.
Recasting Shakespeare’s Macbeth within the civil wars of 19th-century Yorubaland, this gripping drama explores ambition, prophecy, power, and moral collapse through a rich African historical lens.
The story
Fresh from defending the kingdom against invaders, General Aderemi is promoted to Field Marshall — fulfilling the first prophecy of the oracle. When a second prophecy declares that he will become King, Aderemi and his wife Oyebisiembark on a ruthless and bloody mission to secure the throne.
Driven by ambition and haunted by fate, the couple’s rise exposes the devastating cost of power and the fragility of moral restraint.
Creative team and context
The production is directed by Mojisola Kareem, Artistic Director of Utopia Theatre, whose previous work includes Death and the King’s Horseman. Crown of Blood was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme, helping bring this ambitious retelling to the stage.
By blending Shakespearean tragedy with Yoruba history and culture, Crown of Blood offers Sheffield audiences a fresh, urgent perspective on one of theatre’s most enduring stories.
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