Here’s the cast of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, which is now on stage for its UK premiere at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and running until April 25, 2026.
The show reunites writer Jocelyn Bioh (The Ladykillers Love Story) and director Monique Touko (Wedding Band) – the team behind School Girls, or The African Mean Girls Play – for a funny and thought-provoking comedy that premiered on Broadway as part of the Manhattan Theatre Club’s 2023–2024 season.
Welcome to Jaja’s! This bustling Harlem braiding salon is where neighbourhood women come to have their greatest hairstyle dreams come true, all in the hands of a lively group of West African immigrant braiders.
Across one hot summers day, these women experience everything in the pressure cooker of the sweltering shop: from demanding customers to secrets and lies, laughter and betrayal. But each of these women has big dreams as well, dreams which increasingly pit them against the city they call home.
The cast includes Bola Akeju (School Girls) as Ndidi, Renee Bailey (Call the Midwife) as Vanessa/Sheila/Radia, babirye bukilwa (Dreaming Whilst Black) as Aminata, Zainab Jah (Boesman and Lena) as Jaja, Demmy Ladipo (Barber Shop Chronicles) as James/Franklin/Olu/Eric, Dani Moseley (Dreaming Whilst Black) as Michelle/Chrissy/Laniece, Sewa Zamba in their professional stage debut as Marie, Jadesola Odunjo (School Girls) as Miriam, Dolapo Oni (Iya-Ile) as Bea and Karene Peter (Rye Lane) as Jennifer.
The full creative team includes set design by Paul Wills, wigs, hair & make-up design by Cynthia De La Rosa, costume design by Jessica Cabassa, lighting design by Simisola Majekodunmi, sound design by Tony Gayle, video design by Dick Straker, movement direction by Kloé Dean, casting by Julia Horan, associate director Xanthus, assistant director Gràinne Flynn, wigs, hair & make-up supervisor Suzanne Scotcher and wigs, hair & make-up head of department Teváe Humphrey.
It is a Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Madison Wells Live and Chase This Productions coproduction.
Tickets here.
Top image: Babirye Bukilwa, Dolapo Oni, Karene Peter, Jadesola Odunjo – credit Manuel Harlan (image supplied)