Instagram story viewer> @mal.keg> Posts

Malaika Kegode

@mal.keg

2.9K

followers

1973

following

GOOD AS A REST
out now with @burningeyebooks
Next:
🫳✨
MIMI & THE GOLDEN TOUCH
@englishtouringopera

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

So excited to announce BADGERS will have its world premiere in Edinburgh at @traversetheatre! A new folk play reuniting the team behind Outlier, produced by Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Bristol Old Vic, I can't wait to reveal more about what we have in store for you. A dream team, fresh collaborations, and lots of stories...

Something has taken root in this town.

A recluse, a disappearance, a mysterious folk song. And then there's you, Meles — a podcaster with a dying mother and a stalling career — about to stumble into something unfathomable. Something that could change everything. But is it your story to tell?

A folk tale about folk tales, the art of letting go, and the ethics of true crime, Badgers is a shape-shifting, mercurial new show from the team behind Outlier.

Written by Malaika Kegode and directed by Jenny Davies, with music by Jakabol — 'tremendous poetic drama' ★★★★ The Guardian / 'exuberant, convivial energy' ★★★★ The Stage.

Playing preview performances at @bristololdvic1766 ahead of a month long run in Edinburgh then performances at @theatreroyalplymouth and a return to Bristol.

Poster image and design by the very talented @tom_denbigh

More info via link in my bio.

#TravFest26 by @mal.keg

163

28

5 months ago

Hello Friends & Enemies,

I’m so excited to officially announce that GOOD AS A REST is now available for pre-order. Links are live in my bio!

-

A change is as good as a rest, but change is rarely restful.

In her second full collection, Malaika Kegode sits with the transformations we choose and the ones that choose us. Good as a Rest is a collection of poems and stories that explore moments of change - from grief and nature, to finding community in a circle of strangers sharing words.

Inspired by life, loss and her experience as a workshop leader and mentor, this is a warm and witty paean to the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of creativity to heal.

-

Can’t believe this book will soon be out in the world thanks to the OGs at @burningeyebooks, with gorge illustrations by my friend and long term collaborator Christopher Harrisson @haveyoulostme. I’m really proud of what we made, and I’m planning a fun launch party in Bristol so watch this space.

If you know of any poetry events looking to book a recovered tumblr sad girl who now writes life affirming poetry but never forgot her roots, please do send them my way as I am beginning to build a hit list for my book tour.

For now - here are some nice things people said about it. To get you well excited n that:

“Poems to make you sigh for the lives you’ve left behind, and rejoice for the ones you’re yet to live. A gorgeous affirmation of what poetry is for. ”
Ivo Graham

“This is a gorgeous, generous collection in which every poem feels like my favourite. It's filled with ache, beauty and unexpected humour, the kind of book that makes you pause mid-page just to sit with the feeling. It will crack you open and then hold your hand through the healing”
Georgie Jones

“Good as a Rest is such a brilliant and beautiful book, written with so much generosity and tenderness, each page is packed with light and truth. I enjoyed reading these intimate and intricate poems. Malaika Kegode is a truly wonderful poet.”
Salena Godden

“Malaika knows exactly which words to put next to one another to make you want to experience all aspects and angles of our world.”
Rob Auton

Xxxxxx by @mal.keg

63

13

6 months ago

Tribe of Two

A queer coming-of-age story. Mixed-race Mari is expected to follow in her father’s musical footsteps, but the visit of a distant cousin from Zimbabwe turns her world upside down.

Airing on @bbcradio4 at 2.15pm on the 11th September. Then @bbcsounds for catch up.

----

Over the past year or so I've been working on this story of family, belonging and music and I'm so excited for it to be in the world! It's been an honour to create an original drama with the amazing @AfonicaSound under the guidance of the legendary Nicolas Jackson. It was a fantastic experience to work with @yerburyfox who is a such a generous, thoughtful director & producer.

I also need to shout out a thank you to my true and brilliant friend @mazkirkbride for her endless support of my writing journey. It means the absolute world to me and I am very very lucky to have her in my life.

I'll be posting more layers in the lead up to transmission! Excited!!

More info via link in my bio. by @mal.keg

154

11

2 years ago

BADGERS in Plymouth - DONE.
Eternally grateful for this beautiful crew.
Next stop, @bristololdvic1766
🦡❤️ taken in Theatre Royal Plymouth by @mal.keg

77

5

24 days ago

We’re playing in Plymouth! 🦡

Enjoy this first look at Badgers in The Drum.

We’re here until Saturday, then we’re heading to @bristololdvic1766 for our final stop on this South West tour.

📸 Photos by Dom Moore

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer - Malaika Kegode
Director - Jenny Davies
Composer - Jakabol
Additional Composition - Beth Roberts
Set & Costume Designer - Rebecca Wood
Sound Designer - Jack Drewry
Co-Lighting Designer - Mike Gunning
Co-Lighting Designer - Natalia Chan
Video Designer - Christopher Harrisson
Music Supervisor - Harry Miller
Script Consultant — Carl Grose by @mal.keg

94

4

a month ago

We’re so excited that the brilliant Malaika Kegode will be performing at this year’s Where the Light Begins Festival.

Malaika is an award-winning writer and performer who finds “stories between the cracks in the pavement and then helps them to grow”. Her poetry is warm, honest, energetic and deeply human, exploring the experiences that connect us and helping us see the familiar world with fresh eyes.

Whether you already love poetry or have never heard a poet perform live before,Malaika is someone you will want to stop and listen to. Her work reminds us that poetry isn’t something distant or difficult. It can be found in ordinary lives, unexpected places and the stories we carry with us every day.

Malaika has performed at WOMAD, the Southbank Centre and venues across the UK. She has published three poetry books, created acclaimed theatre productions and founded Milk Poetry, one of Bristol’s longest-running spoken-word organisations.

At the heart of everything she creates is a belief we share deeply at Where the Light Begins: that creativity can be a powerful source of healing, hope and connection.

Come and experience Malaika performing live as part of a joyful day of poetry, music and shared hope.

🗓 Saturday 26 September 2026
⏰ 12pm–6pm
📍 Stone Recreation Ground
London Road
Stone, Greenhithe
Kent DA9 9DS

#wherethelightbegins #malaikakegode #poetryfestival #spokenword #creativityandwellbeing taken in Stone Recreation Ground by @mal.keg

27

0

a month ago

Oh Edinburgh, I love ya. You scrambled my brain and lifted my heart. The words won't come yet - maybe as a result of saying 9,642 words a day on stage followed by a few more offstage - but I'm sure they will soon. Enjoying two days of rest before we go again at @theatreroyalplymouth this week, then @bristololdvic1766 next!

Tickets still available for both stops, please come cheer us on for this victory lap of BADGERS - in the South West, where it all started.
🦡🦡🦡🦡 by @mal.keg

132

7

a month ago

We’ve been shortlisted!

Badgers has made the final shortlist for Binge Fringe’s Black Performer’s Award for the amazing performance by @mal.keg

The final awards will be announced on Saturday 🦡 by @mal.keg

113

8

a month ago

Tonight is our final 8.30pm show - the month has flown by! We have just released some holds, so snap ‘em up for the last late-night BADGERS at @traversetheatre . Writer and performer Malaika Kegode has shared a few words about what the show means to her.

🦡

Malaika Kegode is an award-winning writer, performer and theatre-maker based in Bristol, whose work explores working-class identity, rural communities and dual heritage. Since beginning as a performance poet in 2014, she has expanded into theatre, radio drama, facilitation and producing. Her gig-theatre show Outlier ran at Bristol Old Vic in 2021/22 to four-star reviews, while The Colour of Dinosaurs toured nationally in 2023/4. Her radio drama Tribe of Two (BBC Radio 4) was Imison Award-shortlisted. She holds the Kevin Elyot Award, was a mentored writer on Channel 4's 4Screenwriting in 2025, and her work is studied at the University of Vienna. She founded Milk Poetry and is a trustee for mental health arts charity Many Minds.

🦡

Malaika’s latest poetry collection GOOD AS A REST was also published at the beginning of this month by @burningeyebooks taken in Edinburgh, United Kingdom by @mal.keg

96

5

a month ago

★★★★★ WhatsOnStage
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ Musical Theatre Review

@badgerstheplay continues to play to sold-out audiences at Edinburgh Fringe Festival until the end of August.

Don't miss this "mesmeric and magical" new play when it joins us in Plymouth next month!

📍 The Drum
📆 Wed 02 - Sat 05 Sep
🎫 Link in bio by @mal.keg

81

0

a month ago

We’re (just over) two weeks deep into Edinburgh, with (just under) two more to go! Technically this is week two of the festival, but we’ve been here since the 1st August, ploughin’ away bringing BADGERS to the worrrlllddd.

Some of these are from before our run, or stolen from others, coz I'm shit at taking photos, and honestly I was so ill during week one that any photos would’ve just been me pallid and sweaty on the sofa downing Sudafed and multivits from Holland & Barrett. Still, it’s been so great doing this show and looking right in the lovely faces of all the gorgeous audiences who are coming to be Meles together.

When I was writing this play I was worried people would reject the audio-drama, be afear’d of the screens, shout out "NO I REFUSE TO BE MELES" and just not really understand our form-hopping. I care so much about these characters that I felt super protective of this world we all created. It feels pretty incred having people really get it, become part of it, come along with us. Very cool.

Looking forward to doing this show without battling fringe flu. Feel very lucky to have such an incredible team here in Edinburgh (Haddington crew) and be taken such great care of by the Trav team. We are SOLD OUT on the EdFringe site, tickets still remain on the @traversetheatre website but they are going fast so snap ‘em up, pals.

Big, sloppy, non-infectious kisses from me. See ya there. Xxxxx taken in Edinburgh, United Kingdom by @mal.keg

146

19

a month ago

A modern day folktale, @badgerstheplay is playing to sold out audiences at #TravFest in Edinburgh until 30 Aug, before heading to @theatreroyalplymouth and @bristololdvic1766 in September.

A "standout of the Fringe" (WhatsOnStage), don't miss this moving and powerful new production when it returns to the South West.

A Theatre Royal Plymouth production in association with Bristol Old Vic. A new play by @mal.keg

Now playing until 30 Aug – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
02 - 05 Sep – Theatre Royal Plymouth
08 - 12 Sep – Bristol Old Vic

🎥 @roundonefilms by @mal.keg

186

8

2 months ago