Parcel Post

Synopsis

A cramped London flat, 1960s

Sam Folagunle, a devout African bachelor living in London, eagerly awaits the arrival of his mail-order bride Jumaimah (nicknamed “Parcel”). As Sam’s family and neighbors prepare for her arrival, tensions simmer beneath the surface. When Jumaimah finally arrives, she brings with her a secret that threatens to unravel Sam’s carefully laid plans. Yemi Ajibade’s “Parcel Post” is a poignant exploration of the immigrant experience, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the lengths people will go to for a chance at a better life.

The play unfolds in a series of tightly constructed scenes that oscillate between comedy and pathos. Ajibade deftly weaves together themes of cultural displacement, gender expectations, and the precarious nature of immigrant life in 1960s Britain. The cramped flat becomes a microcosm of the larger societal tensions, with characters like the lecherous Landlord and Sam’s interfering sister-in-law Tola representing the various obstacles facing new arrivals. As Jumaimah’s past catches up with her in the form of her former lover Rogo, the play builds to a crescendo that forces all the characters to confront their own motivations and prejudices.