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The Hot Wing King

By Katori Hall

A series of six photos against a red backdrop featuring six men. In various shots, one drinks from a glass, one wears a crown, one adjusts the crown, one laughs with the crown, one looks surprised with the crown, and one poses in a white hat showing rings on his fingers.

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‘You got like, a PhD in chicken. Yo’ knowledge on some next level type s**t’

Ready! Set! Sizzle!

It’s summertime in Memphis, Tennessee and the annual Hot Wing Contest is about to roll through. Cordell has his sights set on the crown this year, with the support of his partner Dwayne and friends, Isom and Big Charles. Together, they are The New Wing Order, and they’re serving wings worthy of ‘kangs’.

Cordell’s culinary crew are getting ready to fire up his new mouth-watering ‘finna-be first-place’ recipe, when the arrival of an unexpected guest throws some extra heat up in the kitchen on prep night.

As the temperature rises and the sauce boils over, it seems a first-place trophy and a grand cash prize aren’t the only things Cordell risks losing. Can he take the heat, or will he have to get out the kitchen?

Kadiff Kirwan is Cordell in this hot new comedy told with the love language of food; about family, Black Masculinity, sexuality and the journey to finding home.

Katori Hall (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, The Mountaintop, P-Valley) returns to the National Theatre with her Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy making its London debut, directed by Roy Alexander Weise (‘Master Harold’… and the boys, Nine Night).

Performed 11 July — 14 September 2024 in the Dorfman Theatre.

Reviews

★★★★★
‘Beautiful. A hearty dosage of Black love’
The Rendition

★★★★
‘Entertaining, heartwarming, refreshing’
Observer

★★★★
‘Entertaining and humane’
Evening Standard

★★★★
‘Finger lickin’ good’
Daily Express

★★★★
‘Makes the mouth water and the heart ache’
WhatsOnStage

★★★★
‘Plenty of great moments and big laughs’
Gay Times

‘Uproariously funny’
The Stage

‘Enthralling’
Time Out

‘A delightfully acted, ebullient production’
The Telegraph

‘Grabs you with spicy intrigue’
Guardian

10 reviews

Video

Three men are in a lively kitchen. One man in an orange shirt and camouflage overalls gestures energetically. Another in a yellow bandana and striped apron stirs a large pot. The third man, in a black T-shirt, looks attentively into the pot.
Play Video

“The Parmesans”

Play Video
Two men are cooking in a kitchen. One man, wearing an orange shirt and black rubber gloves, is gesturing and speaking passionately. The other man, in an orange patterned shirt, is focused on stirring a pot that is emitting steam. Various kitchen utensils and ingredients are on the counter.
Play Video

“I always give you choices”

Play Video
A man wearing an apron, a white tank top, and a bandana is holding up a chicken wing in a kitchen setting. Two other men are visible in the background, one wearing an orange durag. Kitchen utensils and ingredients are on the counter.
Play Video

What people are saying

Play Video
A series of six photos against a red backdrop featuring six men. In various shots, one drinks from a glass, one wears a crown, one adjusts the crown, one laughs with the crown, one looks surprised with the crown, and one poses in a white hat showing rings on his fingers.
Play Video

Watch the trailer

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Gallery

A joyous scene with five men in a kitchen. Four of them are standing together, smiling and laughing, while the fifth man stands at the stove with a smile. Various cleaning supplies and a plant are on the counter. The setting is bright and lively.
A joyous scene with five men in a kitchen. Four of them are standing together, smiling and laughing, while the fifth man stands at the stove with a smile. Various cleaning supplies and a plant are on the counter. The setting is bright and lively.
A joyous scene with five men in a kitchen. Four of them are standing together, smiling and laughing, while the fifth man stands at the stove with a smile. Various cleaning supplies and a plant are on the counter. The setting is bright and lively.
View 10 images
Two men are cooking in a kitchen. One man, wearing an orange shirt and black rubber gloves, is gesturing and speaking passionately. The other man, in an orange patterned shirt, is focused on stirring a pot that is emitting steam. Various kitchen utensils and ingredients are on the counter. A man wearing an apron, a white tank top, and a bandana is holding up a chicken wing in a kitchen setting. Two other men are visible in the background, one wearing an orange durag. Kitchen utensils and ingredients are on the counter. Three men are in a lively kitchen. One man in an orange shirt and camouflage overalls gestures energetically. Another in a yellow bandana and striped apron stirs a large pot. The third man, in a black T-shirt, looks attentively into the pot. Three men are enthusiastically singing in a brightly lit living room. One is playing the piano, while the other two sing and dance around him. The living room features colourful artwork, a yellow sofa, and a bookshelf with various knick-knacks. Two men are in a kitchen. The man in the foreground, holding a jar of seasoning, has an afro hairstyle and wears a black and white shirt. The man in the background, wearing a yellow bandana, is washing dishes at the sink. The kitchen is decorated with patterned curtains and artwork. Three men gather around a kitchen island, focusing intently on cooking tasks. One man on the puts chicken wings on a grill, the man in the centre wears a yellow bandana, and the man on the right tends to a pot. Above them, three pendant lights illuminate the scene. A group of five men stands in a kitchen with modern decor. Three men sit on stools while two stand; four of them watch on as the fifth man holds a chicken wing in his hand. They are dressed casually, with two wearing matching orange patterned shirts. A light fixture hangs over the kitchen island. Two men engage in conversation in a brightly lit room. One wears a white tank top and light trousers, accessorised with gold chains around his neck. The other wears a orange patterned shirt over a black T-shirt with jeans, his hands in his pockets. A bookshelf is visible in the background. Two actors engage in an intense basketball game scene on stage. The player on the left, in a black T-shirt and shorts, reaches to block the shot of the player on the right, who wears an orange patterned shirt and trousers. The stage set resembles a furnished home. Two other men stand in the background next to a basketball hoop.

Production images

Two men are laughing together in rehearsal room. One man wears a black tank top and a white apron, and the other wears glasses and a red shirt. They are standing near a kitchen counter with various cooking items on it.
Two men are laughing together in rehearsal room. One man wears a black tank top and a white apron, and the other wears glasses and a red shirt. They are standing near a kitchen counter with various cooking items on it.
Two men are laughing together in rehearsal room. One man wears a black tank top and a white apron, and the other wears glasses and a red shirt. They are standing near a kitchen counter with various cooking items on it.
View 10 images
Three men in a rehearsal room, rehearsing a scene. Behind them are various pieces of furniture as part of a makeshift set. They are all expressive and animated. A group of people laughing, sat around a rehearsal room with wooden walls. Two individuals seated on stools are smiling and laughing, and another person stands with arms raised. Tables and various items are scattered around. Four other people sit at the edges of the room. Five men gathered round a piano in a rehearsal room, smiling and chatting. They are all wearing comfortable clothing. Four men in a rehearsal room are standing around a kitchen island, chatting and smiling. One of the men is wearing a yellow sports top, another is in a red sweatshirt, the third is dressed in black, and the fourth man is wearing an apron. Various kitchen items are on the counter including cooking pots and sauces. Three men are dancing joyfully in a rehearsal space. The man on the left wears a yellow sports top and beige shorts. The middle man wears a white t-shirt and black pants. The man on the right is dressed in dark clothing. A piano, a sofa and various props are in the background. Two people having a conversation in a rehearsal room, gesturing with their hands. The person on the left is a woman wearing a white t-shirt and glasses. The person on the right is a man wearing a black t-shirt and an ID lanyard. A man wearing a white apron and black tank top stands at a kitchen counter in a rehearsal room, smiling. There are various pots and pans on the counter as well as little dishes with chicken wings. Three men in a rehearsal room, rehearsing a scene and wearing casual clothes. One of the men is holding open a door as part of a makeshift set. Three people are sitting in a room, two at a table with laptops and one in a chair. The person on the left is typing, the middle person is looking at the camera with hand on chin, and the person on the right is smiling while holding an open notebook. Papers and drinks are on the table.

Rehearsal images

Suitability

For ages 14+

Please note: This production contains flashing lights, descriptions of death and strong and offensive language.

Supporters

The National Theatre’s New Work programme is supported by the Lawton W Fitt & James I McLaren Foundation

Cast

Jason Barnett
Jason Barnett photo portrait

Jason Barnett

Big Charles

Kaireece Denton
Kaireece Denton photo portrait

Kaireece Denton

Everett “EJ”

Kadiff Kirwan
Kadiff Kirwan portrait photo

Kadiff Kirwan

Cordell

Olisa Odele
Olisa Odele portrait photo

Olisa Odele

Isom

Simon-Anthony Rhoden
Photo portrait of Simon-Anthony Rhoden

Simon-Anthony Rhoden

Dwayne

Dwane Walcott
Dwane Walcott photo portrait

Dwane Walcott

TJ

Production team

Playwright

Katori Hall

Katori Hall

Director

Roy Alexander Weise

Roy Alexander Weise

Set and Costume Designer

Rajha Shakiry

Rajha Shakiry

Movement Director

DK Fashola

DK Fashola

Composer and Music Director

Femi Temowo

Femi Temowo

Lighting Designer

Joshua Pharo

Joshua Pharo

Sound Designer

Elena Peña

Elena Peña

Intimacy and Fight Director

Bethan Clark

Bethan Clark

Casting Director

Jacob Sparrow

Jacob Sparrow

Dramatherapist

Samantha Adams

Samantha Adams

Dialect Coach

Hazel Holder

Hazel Holder

Company Voice Work

Tamsin Newlands

Tamsin Newlands

Associate Set and Costume Designer

Ruth Hall

Ruth Hall

Linbury Set and Costume Associate

Yimei Zhao

Yimei Zhao

Staff Director

Cory Hippolyte

Cory Hippolyte

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Photography (Dwane Walcott, Kadiff Kirwan, Olisa Odele, Kaireece Denton, Simon-Anthony Rhoden and Jason Barnett) by Johnny Ho.