In a vibrant addition to the summer theater season, the critically acclaimed play Shifters by Olivier Award-nominated playwright Benedict Lombe is making its highly anticipated North American premiere at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City.
Previews began on July 6, 2026, with the official opening scheduled for July 15 and performances running through August 30.
The two-hander stars Heather Agyepong reprising her Olivier Award-nominated role as Des and Daniel Ezra (All American, A Discovery of Witches) as Dre. Directed by BAFTA-nominated and Evening Standard Theatre Award-winner Lynette Linton, the production transfers from sold-out runs at London’s Bush Theatre and the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre.
Shifters tells the story of Dre and Des-young, gifted, and Black who first connect in a school debate club. He stays; she leaves. Years later, they reunite at a funeral, carrying new secrets and old scars. The play explores the enduring power of memory, first love, and the shifts in identity, perspective, and circumstance that define relationships.
Its fluid, dreamlike structure moves seamlessly between past and present, blending tenderness, grief, humor, and raw emotion in a narrative often compared to works like Nick Payne’s Constellations.
Lombe, a Congolese-British playwright, has garnered significant praise for her intimate yet universal storytelling. Her previous work Lava won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Shifters made history as one of the rare plays by a Black British female playwright to reach the West End. Reviewers have lauded its “giddy kisses and real heart,” calling it an “ethereal marvel” that captures the complexities of love, abuse, grief, and the Black experience with nuance and authenticity.
Heather Agyepong returns as Des after earning acclaim and an Olivier nomination for the role. Her performance is described as luminous, bringing depth and vulnerability to a character navigating destiny, ambition, and emotional scars.
Daniel Ezra steps into the role of Dre, bringing his screen presence to the stage as the character grapples with memory, fatherhood, and the pull of past connections. The chemistry between the leads has been a highlight of previous productions.
The production arrives at Cherry Lane Theatre, New York’s oldest Off-Broadway venue, under the banner of A24. This partnership signals growing investment in bold, character-driven stories with cultural resonance. Interest has been further boosted by reports that Channel 4 and See-Saw Films are developing a television adaptation of the play.
Relevance of the Movie
For many in the Black arts community, Shifters represents more than a love story. It offers a platform for nuanced portrayals of Black intimacy, intellect, and emotional complexity rarely centered in mainstream theater.
The play’s exploration of “shifting” in relationships, personal growth, and societal expectations resonates deeply in an era where stories of Black love and resilience continue to gain global appreciation.
Tickets for the limited run are available through the Cherry Lane Theatre website, with strong demand expected following the London success and star power of the cast. Theater goers familiar with the play from across the Atlantic describe it as a transformative experience that leaves audiences reflecting on their own relationships and the “what ifs” that linger in memory.
As previews unfold in Greenwich Village, Shifters stands poised to captivate New York audiences with its poetic dialogue, innovative structure, and powerful performances. In a theatrical landscape often dominated by revivals and spectacles, Lombe’s intimate epic offers something rarer: a fierce, intoxicating romance that feels both deeply personal and profoundly universal.
The arrival of Shifters also highlights the continued transatlantic flow of Black British talent and stories enriching American stages. With its blend of intellectual rigor, emotional honesty, and theatrical innovation, the production promises to be one of the must-see events of the 2026 summer season.
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