You can see this stand-out show around the UK this autumn
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY ANG JACKMAN
Are you dying to see Temi Wilkey’s show, Main Character Energy? Don’t worry if you missed it at the Edinburgh Fringe or London’s Soho Theatre because Temi is now going on a major UK tour.
This genre-busting solo show, directed by Ragevan Vasan and produced by Bobby Harding, is an autobiographical show all about one Black actor determined to take up space. Exploring themes of ego, identity and the pressure to perform your worth, Main Character Energy is a must-see show that takes audiences somewhere entirely new.
Main Character Energy will open at Bristol Old Vic (6–11 October), before playing The Nest at Chichester Festival Theatre (21–22 November), as part of its inaugural season, and Sheffield Theatres (28–29 November).
And that’s not all. Main Character Energy is just the first instalment in a planned trilogy, with its sequel set to premiere in 2026.
You may know Temi from shows like The High Table or her performances at Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre and Royal Court. The award-winning actor has also written for the small screen, with credits on hit shows like Sex Education or Disney+’s Wedding Season. She also founded the drag king collective Pecs.
As part of this new tour, Main Character Energy will be hosting a BLACK OUT night at Bristol’s Old Vic on 9 October, giving Black-identifying audience members the chance to view the production and discuss its themes without the white gaze. This performance will also be followed by a discussion with Travis Alabanza.
Tickets for Bristol can be found here. Tickets for the Sheffield run can be found here. And tickets for The Next can be found here.
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