Queen Idia the Musical is a powerful Nigerian-British production in development, and this exclusive work-in-progress sharing invites you into the heart of a story too long left untold. Inspired by the legendary Queen Idia of the Benin Kingdom, warrior, strategist, mother, icon, this musical brings her voice to life through stirring Afrobeats, poetic storytelling, and the vibrant spirit of Nigerian culture.
Her iconic bronze mask, looted during the 1897 British invasion and now housed in the British Museum, is known around the world and etched into every Nigerian passport and immortalised as the emblem of FESTAC ’77. But the woman behind the bronze has remained in the shadows.
Until now…
This performance follows a powerful creative journey, shaped in collaboration with the University of Cambridge’s Public Engagement team, the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, the Centre of African Studies – University of Cambridge, the University of Cambridge Library, the Key Theatre Peterborough, and the National Theatre of Nigeria – with soul stirring performances in Cambridge as part of the Cambridge Festival, Peterborough as part of Landmark Theatre’s Weekender Festival, and a sold out show on London’s West End.
Three performances and four standing ovations later, this next chapter invites you to step into the world of Queen Idia – into her courage, fire and legacy.
Raw. Alive. Evolving.
You’re not just watching a show, you’re stepping into the making of a movement. Be part of the journey toward a major new production. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness history in the making.