In our profile series, Tell Us In Ten, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions. From how they got their start in the industry to their favourite shows, we want to know everything.
On the series this week, we chat to David Ajala who is currently starting in My Master Builder as Ragnar at the Wyndams Theatre alongside Ewan McGregor and Elizabeth Debicki. David has had an extensive career across screen and stage and is well known for his character Cleveland “Book” Booker in Star Trek: Discovery and Manchester Black in Supergirl. For theatre, David has tread the boards at The Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse and the Almeida Theatre.
Mirren Mack and David Ajala in rehearsal for My Master Builder. Photo by Johan Perrson
1. My route into theatre was…
My route into theatre was through the magic of storytelling — particularly through improvisation. That was my gateway. The sheer immediacy of creating something in the moment, with nothing but your body, voice, and imagination, completely hooked me. For me, theatre is the purest form of storytelling. It’s raw, alive, and endlessly human. It’s also where I believe actors can truly develop and harness their craft — there’s nowhere to hide on stage, and that’s where the growth happens.
2. My West End idol is…
Adrian Lester. Cut from a different cloth.
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
A lover of food and naps.
4. My favourite show is…
One of my favourite shows was Burnt by the Sun at the National Theatre starring Rory Kinnear and Ciaran Hinds. Superb.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
The moment I chose to never give up.
6. The hardest part about my job is…
Specifically in this play, trying to stay “strong” whilst the artists on stage pour out such raw emotional vulnerability.
7. If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…
A percussive musician.
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
I am the son of a superhero Mother whom I love dearly.
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
Don’t forget to breathe. Painfully simple…but sometimes “simple” is where the gold is.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
What if I fall, oh but my darling, what if you fly? -Erin Hanson
Book now to see David Ajala onstage in My Master Builder at the Wyndams Theatre until 12/07/2025