Opening at Canada Water Theatre this month as part of Peckham Fringe, Boxes is written and performed by Shona Bukola Babayemi.
“Boxes is a poetic odyssey seeking shelter in an unstable world. Caught in the tides of homelessness, our protagonist covets a box from her past.
Fights, fleeting friendships, custard creams, cultural clashes, missed connections, red wine and the power of pounded yam, all lead to a transformative encounter in a Peckham hair salon, setting her on a path to reclaim the box she lost and, perhaps the self she abandoned.”
Where: Canada Water Theatre
When: 15-16 May
Ticket link: https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/boxes/
“Boxes are usually really disappointing. Fluff filled, lacking sentiment and empty. But no, not this one.”
Shona tells us more about the show.
Can you tell us a bit about your new show?
Boxes is a one-woman play that looks at the transformative power of hair, finding your feet in an unstable world and the Gods that live amongst us. All while coveting a mysterious box you never asked for but can’t shake!
It’s me on stage, raw and unfiltered, weaving together poetry, laugh-out-loud confessions, and those moments when you realize your past is still unpacking itself behind you.
Do you enjoy fringe festivals? What’s great about Peckham?
Love love love FRINGE. Fringes are where theatre breathes free and anything feels possible. Peckham Fringe in particular is electric. I’ve already seen so many incredible shows and that is JUST in 2025 not to mention the years beforehand.
It’s the perfect home for a bold, unapologetic storytelling like Boxes. Plus, these are my ends, the quickest commute to work I think I’ll ever have! Although I’m working on the Savoy…
Boxes is a show about hair, homelessness, and a box from the past. What should audiences expect?
Expect to laugh, wince, and maybe tear up when you least see it coming. If Misty and Chewing Gum Dreams had a steamy love child it might look a little bit like Boxes.
And that box? It’s equal parts metaphor and ticking time-bomb: every item inside sparks a memory you didn’t know you were holding onto. Expect 00’s nostalgia, London culture, hair, food, friendship, fun, and, of course, boxes.
What else is in the pipeline after these shows?
I’ve been working on a couple of writing seed commissions, including my play Limoncello/Tiramisu which is developed as part of the 503Five (Theatre 503).
Plus, Boxes is just beginning! It’s eyeing a few more stages later this year, so if you want to say you saw it first… don’t wait to book a ticket!
Stay in touch and follow @shonababayemi on socials!
Describe your show in three words.
Saucy. Braids. Unapologetic!