Mlima's Tale

They call him Mlima, the mountain – a magnificent elephant slaughtered by poachers for his tusks.

Beginning in a game park in Kenya, we follow the trajectory of the tusks through the international ivory-trade market, while Mlima's spirit is close behind, marking all those complicit in his barbaric death.

Lynn Nottage's play Mlima's Tale is a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, rage-inducing portrait of humankind's capacity for corruption and greed, and our continued destruction of the natural world.

It was first produced at The Public Theater, New York City, in 2018, and received its British premiere in September 2023 at Kiln Theatre, London.

REVIEWS

"Mlima's tale is a play that points out humanity’s selfishness and corruption. But, never does the script veer into thunderous rage. From the grave Milma sees the damning impact of greed and capitalism but Nottage’s strength as a writer is that his silent presence is enough to make you enraged. No words are wasted here – she doesn’t need them to be" ~ Time Out

"'A wide-reaching and damning indictment of the ivory trade... Nottage’s story encapsulates the complex struggles of conservation and the deep-rooted tentacles of corruption" ~ The Guardian

"A brutal, beautiful experience... magical and deeply moving" ~ Evening Standard