SKY ROOTS
From Liberia to Adelaide, local theatre icon Shedrick Yarkpai shares his extraordinary true story in a powerful, deeply human one-man show. Blending storytelling, song and dance, he explores how art, resilience, and humour helped him rebuild a life on the other side of the world. Both raw and uplifting, this performance uncovers what it means to survive, belong, and keep creating when everything else has been stripped away. Filled with music, movement, and powerful honesty, this is a captivating journey of voice, identity, and hope from one of South Australia’s most inspiring performers. This intimate, compelling and uplifting show is not to be missed – three performances only!
Presented by: YARKPOLE Productions
Shedrick Yarkpai is a Liberian-born actor based in Adelaide. He discovered his love of performance through childhood Sunday School plays in Liberia and continued acting during his forced migration, writing and staging productions in a refugee camp in Guinea. After settling in Adelaide, his career took off following a chance audition with Independent Theatre, leading to a long-standing collaboration. He is widely recognised for landmark roles, including becoming the first African-born actor cast as Othello in an Australian production in 2011, a role he reprised more than a decade later. His journey inspired Objects in the Mirror, which premiered in Chicago. He has also appeared in film and television, including The Stranger (2022). Pru and Shedrick have been friends since working together in 2008.Suitability & warnings
Please note
Themes include: civil war, refugee experience, racism.
Accessibility
- High audio content
- Audience members interact from the seated or standing area
- Suitable for audiences who may not have a comprehensive understanding of the English language
Presenter
Presented by: YARKPOLE Productions
Shedrick Yarkpai is a Liberian-born actor based in Adelaide. He discovered his love of performance through childhood Sunday School plays in Liberia and continued acting during his forced migration, writing and staging productions in a refugee camp in Guinea. After settling in Adelaide, his career took off following a chance audition with Independent Theatre, leading to a long-standing collaboration. He is widely recognised for landmark roles, including becoming the first African-born actor cast as Othello in an Australian production in 2011, a role he reprised more than a decade later. His journey inspired Objects in the Mirror, which premiered in Chicago. He has also appeared in film and television, including The Stranger (2022). Pru and Shedrick have been friends since working together in 2008.
