Exploring what it means to love, grieve and build your own future, being young and Black British today, Attic Theatre Company’s production of Roy Williams’ new play All Roads receives its world premiere in March 2023, touring four London venues with a press night at New Wimbledon Theatre Studio on 14 March.
Attic will host post-show talks on 10, 16 and 24 March 2023 with the playwright, Roy Williams.
‘If only he knew. If only he listened.’
A tragic event. Two young Black lives are blown apart. In the madness of grief, Matthew and Chantel are drawn together. As the clouds begin to clear they wonder what their shared future might hold.
Directed by Anastasia Osei Kuffour (Typical, Soho Theatre), the two-hander play All Roads featuring actors Kudzai Mangombe (Malindadzimu, Hampstead Theatre) and Tristan Waterson (The Spine, 20 Stories High) will tour to Tramshed, New Wimbledon Theatre Studio, Theatre Peckham and Bernie Grant Arts Centre.
Kudzai Mangombe and Tristan Waterson in rehearsals for All Roads
Speaking about the partnership, Attic’s artistic director and joint CEO Jonathan Humphreys said: “We’re so excited to be able to announce this project which we have been developing for the past couple of years with Roy Williams. Central to our vision is touring work to new, diverse audiences in London and across the UK.
“Producing a world premiere from Roy and touring it to four leading venues across London is a fantastic project for us. We cannot wait to share this beautiful new play with audiences.”
Director Anastasia Osei Kuffour added: “I’m excited to be directing this production because I love the interweaving and dynamic way Roy has written this play and the fact that it centres on two global majority young people navigating what it means to be Black, young and in love – all themes I’m drawn to as a young Black woman myself.”
L-R Stage manager Chloe Ashley, director Anastasia Osei Kuffour, writer Roy Williams, actors Kudzai Mangombe and Tristan Waterson, plus sound designer Khalil Madovi
The creative team will include set designer Zahra Mansouri, lighting designer Jonathan Chan and sound designer Khalil Madovi. The company has focused heavily on ensuring that the strong diversity of the cast and creative team is extended into the technical team, pushing for the production to be an exemplary representation of the creative case for diversity.
“Roy Williams’ plays explore the fault lines of Britain’s multi-cultural society with rare dramatic power and precision”
Daily Telegraph
All Roads is presented by Attic Theatre Company in partnership with Tramshed and in association with Theatre Peckham and Bernie Grant Arts Centre.
About the company
Attic are a company of national ambition, rooted in their local community. They create new shows in a variety of contexts and place reaching new audiences of all ages at their heart, touring to areas with low cultural provision. The South London-based company’s mission is to make exceptional and transformative live theatre and to offer creative workshops that are accessible and available to people of all backgrounds and from all walks of life. In addition to commissioning and producing original theatre, they collaborate with leading artists and a myriad partners to make relevant, high-quality work which tours far and wide, from traditional theatre venues to unconventional spaces such as libraries, community buildings and parks. Their vibrant and diverse learning and participation programmes are tailored for intergenerational audiences and under-represented groups, centred primarily in their local borough of Merton where the company is based.
About Roy Williams
Black British playwright Roy Williams OBE is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning writer whose plays have been produced in theatre such as the National Theatre, Royal Court and Lyric Hammersmith. He has also written for television and film with companies such as Channel 4, BBC and Sky. Williams’ work includes an adaptation of Death of England (National Theatre); Sucker Punch (Royal Court); Category B (Tricycle); Days of Significance (RSC); Joe Guy (Soho Theatre/Tiata Fahodzi); There’s Only One Wayne Matthews (Polka Theatre); Baby Girl (National Theatre Connections); and Wildfire (Hampstead Theatre).
ALL ROADS is the #worldpremiere of a new #play by Roy Williams, directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour, which explores what it means to #love, #grieve and build your own future, being #young #Black and #British today.
Tickets: https://t.co/DpN6yjpFR9
🎭✊🏾🖤
— Attic (@thisisattic) February 28, 2023
