In Her Eyes, I’m a Good Man
Theatre Peckham
In Her Eyes, I’m a Good Man, written and directed by Mo Korede, is part of Theatre Peckham’s Young, Gifted & Black 2026 season. True to the programme’s mission, this play is not just about love in its many forms, from friendship to romance, but is also a love letter itself to the vibrancy and richness of Black British life.
Imbued with music from across the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, Korede illustrates how relationships are shaped by our community, both the people in it and the cultural expectations that dictate it. At the play’s centre are two childhood best friends, Kay (Victoria Nwaesei) and Jay (Seyi Falas), who have been each other’s rocks since they were young. The chemistry between Nwaesei and Falas is palpable, and they expertly execute the agonising intensity and intimacy of their characters’ emotions as they navigate their dating lives with other people. While the two characters might not necessarily see each other as soulmates, the body language they speak, the shared banter they have, the looks they give to each other, suggest otherwise.
This will-they-won’t-they plot relies on fairly predictable obstacles, such as meddling exes and tortuous instances of bad communication. What keeps the show dynamic is its high-octane sound design. DJs RUSH:HOUR and Bridget Ekelectic deliver an immersive, hypersonic soundscape that transforms the stage into various propulsive scenes of Black party culture, such as a Nigerian club during Detty December and Carnival in the sultry heat of London summer – it’s impossible to not feel yourself bopping to each song that’s played and the audience is even invited on stage at points to join the party. Mo Bangura and Zainab Lawal, who form the play’s ensemble and act as the “curators of vibes”, also lift the play, shapeshifting continuously into a range of side characters around the main couple and injecting plenty of comedy. Together, the four performers create an almost sacred atmosphere of joy that keeps the audience gripped throughout. While at times this energy drowns out the plot and blunts its more poignant moments, it also speaks to the worlds around us that shape who we are.
An unexpected highlight of the night was a short extract from Assistant Director Effie Ansah’s own play, which Imagiphoria Productions, the company behind In Her Eyes, I’m a Good Man, has committed to staging alongside two other works from the creative team. The few minutes we saw were tightly crafted and beautifully performed, and I’m very excited to see the full production. Overall, this commitment to platforming the varied stories of, and voices within, the Black British community is vital and exemplary.
Cast & Crew
Mo Korede – Writer/Director
Effie Ansah – Assistant Director
Mya Onwugbonu – Producer
Imagiphoria Productions – Production Company
Shane Afolabi – Executive Producer
Bashiie Baptiste – Project Manager
Yemurai Zvaraya – Movement Director
Arianna Muñoz – Sound Designer
RUSH:HOUR – DJ Composer
Bridget Ekelectic – DJ Composer
Jahmiko Marshall – Lighting Designer
Phyllys Egharevba – Set/Costume Designer
Janhavi Shivalkar – Stage Manager
Tanasha Chege – Rehearsal and Production Photographer
Lynelle Kisuule – Marketing Manager
Seyi Falas – JAY
Victoria Nwaesei – KAY
Mo Bangura – ENSEMBLE
Zainab Lawal – ENSEMBLE
