Nigerian Novel My Sister, the Serial Killer Is Being Adapted into a Ballet

Ballet and murder mystery might not seem like the most obvious pairing, but the UK-based ballet company is bringing My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite to the stage in a dark, stylish adaptation of the 2018 hit novel.

Ballet Black making space for diverse storytelling. This production is choreographed by Chanel DaSilva. This is her British choreographic debut. DaSilva has had an impressive career that includes commissions for The Washington Ballet and Parsons Dance Company, among others.

If you haven’t read My Sister, the Serial Killer yet, here’s the gist: Korede is used to cleaning up after her sister Ayoola—literally. Ayoola has a habit of killing her boyfriends, and Korede’s job is to make the bodies disappear. Things get complicated when the man Korede loves falls for Ayoola, forcing her to make some tough decisions. Get a copy here. Ebony Thomas plays Tade. Helga Paris Morales is Ayoola and Isabela Coracy Korede

The book was an instant hit in 2018 when it first came out. It was longlisted for the Booker Prize, a Sunday Times bestseller, and winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. It is sharp, darkly funny, and the kind of novel that feels made for a creative, unconventional adaptation like this one. In 2020 BBC did a radio adaptation.

Braithwaite shared the news on Instagram, clearly thrilled about seeing her debut novel take on a whole new form.