Inua Ellams’ Black T-Shirt Collection Lands TV Deal

Working Title TV has acquired the exclusive television rights to Black T-Shirt Collection, the first TV project by Inua Ellams, who is the writer and creator of The National Theatre’s critically acclaimed Barbershop Chronicles.

A four-part miniseries, Black T-Shirt Collection crosses Nigeria, Egypt, England and China to tell the story of Nigerian foster brothers Matthew and Muhammed, whose handmade t-shirts become a global streetwear brand. Their personal lives and growing business empire cross the lines of globalized capitalism, sectarianism and homophobia.

Surian Fletcher-Jones, head of development at Working Title TV, said: “Inua is a searingly original writer whose work has been a huge draw for theater audiences. We are thrilled that he has entrusted us with his first television project. Black T-Shirt Collection is heartfully interwoven with many very pertinent subjects, explored through the eyes of two beautifully written protagonists. We’re excited to introduce Inua to commissioners and find the perfect home for Black T-Shirt Collection.”

Ellams added: “Black T-shirt Collection was a joyful, painful and intensely personal story to write. I loved performing it as a play across the world. Adapting it for television is an opportunity to introduce a bigger audience to the fragile, beautiful brothers, their impossibly complex relationship and the worlds they precariously negotiate. I am excited and looking forward to developing this with Working Title.”