Jenny Jules, Danny Sapani and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who appeared together in Big White Fog at the Almeida in 2007, return to the venue this summer to lead the cast of Tiata Delights 08.
The trio is joined by Cathy Tyson, Ellen Thomas, Cyril Nri, Christopher Colquhoun, Ayo-Dele Ajana, Jude Akuwudike, Aml Ameen, Shyko Amos, Adetomiwa Edun, Tunde Euba, Cush Jumbo, Martina Laird, Charles Mnene, Yetunde Oduwole, Rhoda Ofori-Attah, Chike Okonkwo, Marcy Oni, Ben Onwukwe, Israel Oyelumade, Richard Pepple, Joy Elias-Rilwan and Clifford Samuel.
Tiata Delights 08 is a week-long showcase of new work from emerging and established British African playwrights running from 28 July-2 August. The selection of shows comprises Laurence Olivier Award-winner Bola Agbaje’s In Time, Francis Aidoo’s The Burial, Yvonne Dodoo’s Liquid Gold, Rex Obano’s Burned To Nothing, Nii Ayikwei Parkes’s Walking Waterfall and Ade Solanke’s Pandora’s Box.
After making her Almeida debut in 2007’s Big White Fog, Jules is becoming a regular at the Islington venue, going on to appear in Pinter’s The Homecoming earlier this year. Sapani’s credits include The Overwhelming, His Dark Materials and Antony And Cleopatra for the National Theatre and Macbeth for Out Of Joint, while Mbatha-Raw is a rising star of the small screen appearing in Spooks, Dr Who, new archaeological drama Bonekickers and the television adaptation of Fallout.
Tyson has previously worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, though is still best known for her BAFTA-nominated breakthrough role in 1986 film Mona Lisa. Thomas’s theatrical work includes Statement Of Regret, Measure For Measure, Fuente Ovejuna (all National Theatre), Twelfth Night and Salome. Nri’s host of credits include repeat visits to the National, Tricycle, Royal Court and RSC. Colquhoun has also worked with the RSC and National, but is probably best known for playing Dr Simon Kaminsky in Casualty.
Tiata Fahodzi, which was founded by Femi Elufowoju Jr in 1997, produces new writing from established and emerging writers alongside classics exploring the richness and heritage of theatre sourced from people living within British African communities. Among the new writing discovered or staged by the company are The Estate, Pure Gold and Joe Guy, which were all staged at Soho, and the Royal Court’s Oxford Street.
MA