The Spalding Suite

When we were young, we worshipped stars,
gleaming long-limbed godsframed in the act of impossible flight.
For a time we tried to follow,
to carve out our own piece of sky
with a butter-smooth arc of an arm
and a Spalding ball glued to the fingertips...

Seen from a British perspective, The Spalding Suite gets to the heart and soul of the gravity-defying game and delves into the hopes and dreams of those who play it. From the fleeting high of the score and the robust camaraderie of the team, to the poignant lows of a body too worn to play the game.

Born in Nigeria in 1984, Inua Ellams is an internationally touring poet, playwright, performer, graphic artist & designer. He has published two volumes of poetry: Candy Coated Unicorns and Converse All Stars and Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales. His first play The 14th Tale (a one-man show which he performed) was awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival and his third, Black T-Shirt Collection ran at England’s National Theatre. He lives and works from London, where he founded the Midnight Run, a nocturnal urban excursion.