Heather Basten – The Theatre Playbook

Freema Agyeman meets God of Carnage at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

Doctor Who and Dreamland star Freema Agyeman will star in the revival of Yasmina Reza’s savagely dark comedy God of Carnage.

Agyeman will play Veronique Vallon in the play when it opens at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, directed by Nicholai La Barrie.

Also joining the production is Ariyon Bakare (His Dark Materials) playing Alain Reille, Dinita Gohil (The Father and the Assassin) takes on the role of Annette Reille and Martin Hutson (Small Island) plays Michel Vallon.

When 11-year-old Ferdinand knocked 11-year-old Bruno’s two front teeth out, their parents meet up to have a civil conversation about the misdemeanours of their children in a suitably calm and rational way… what can go wrong? As night falls chaos ensues with explosive tantrums, name-calling and tears.

Reza’s comedy, translated by Christopher Hampton, is designed is by Lily Arnold. The lighting design is by Richard Howell, sound design and composition by Asaf Zohar and casting by Heather Basten.

Agyeman said: “I am beyond thrilled to be returning to the London stage, and where better than the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, with its incredible history and tradition – a space where consistently solid, inclusive and high calibre work is created and shared. I’m also happy to be staying in the genre of dark comedy post Dreamland – God of Carnage made me gasp and guffaw in equal measure! I look forward to performing in this play alongside the fantastic cast and am very excited to be working with director Nicholai La Barrie whose enthusiasm is infectious!”

Rehearsals begin at the Young Vic for Beneatha’s Place

Take a look at the rehearsals of Beneatha’s Place, a satire written and directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah that will have its UK premiere at the Young Vic.

Inspired by the groundbreaking civil rights drama A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha’s Place is about the power of knowing your history and the cost of letting it go.

1959. The first wave of independence is sweeping across Africa and Beneatha has left the prejudice of 1950s America for a brighter future with her Nigerian husband in Lagos. But on the day they move into their new house in the white suburbs, it doesn’t take long for cracks to appear, changing the course of the rest of their lives.

Present day. Now a renowned Dean whose colleagues are questioning the role of African American studies for future generations, Beneatha returns to the same house in search of answers.

Cherrelle Skeete (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) stars in the title role as Beneatha Younger, with Zackary Momoh (Seven Seconds) as Joseph Asagai/Wale Oguns, Sebastian Armesto (Leopoldstadt) as Daniel Barnes/Prof Mark Bond, Jumoké Fashola (The High Table) as Prof Shirley Jones/Aunty Fola, Tom Godwin (Best of Enemies) as Mr Nelson/Prof Gary Jacobs and Nia Gwynne (Tolkien) as Mrs Nelson/Dr Harriet Banks.

Set and costume design is by Debbie Duru, lighting design by Mark Henderson, sound design by Tony Gayle, voice and dialect coach Esi Acquaah-Harrison, casting director Heather Basten, Jerwood assistant director Ellis and Jerwood trainee assistant director Tia-zakura Camilleri.

Written and directed by Kwei-Armah, the Young Vic Theatre Artistic Director, it plays in the Young Vic Main House from June 27-August 5.

More information and tickets: www.youngvic.org

Cast announced for Beneatha’s Place at The Young Vic

Cherrell Skeete, Zachary Momoh and Sebastian Armesto will head the cast of Beneatha’s Place, Kwame Kwei-Armah’s satire at The Young Vic.

Running from June 27 to August 5, Skeete will star as Beneatha Younger,
Momoh as Joseph Asagai/Wale Oguns, Armesto as Daniel Barnes/Prof Mark Bond, with Jumoké Fashola as Prof Shirley Jones/Aunty Fola, Tom Godwin as Mr Nelson/Prof Gary Jacobs, and Nia Gwynne as Mrs. Nelson/Dr Harriet Banks.

Present day. Now a renowned Dean whose colleagues are questioning the role of African American studies for future generations, Beneatha returns to the same house in search of answers.

Inspired by the groundbreaking civil rights drama, A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha’s Place challenges today’s culture wars about colonial history and reckoning with the past.

The creative team is completed by set and costume designer Debbie Duru, lighting designer Mark Henderson, sound designer Tony Gayle, voice and dialect coach Esi Acquaah-Harrison, casting director Heather Basten, Jerwood assistant director Ellis and Jerwood trainee assistant director Tia-zakura Camilleri.

Tickets: www.youngvic.org