Cast announced for Talawa’s Twelfth Night-inspired musical PLAY ON!
The cast has been announced for the UK premiere of Play On!, the jazz-fuelled, Twelfth Night inspired musical that will tour the UK from September 2024 – February 2025, including a winter run at Lyric Hammersmith.
From Talawa, the UK’s outstanding Black theatre company, this joyous, musical retelling of Shakespeare’s beloved play brings to life the 1940s New York jazz scene, set to a timeless, toe-tapping Duke Ellington score.
The cast comprises Tsemaye Bob-Egbe (SIX The Musical, West End) as Viola, who sets forth to make a name for herself in the New York jazz scene. Lady Liv is played by Kori Hedgemon (Lovin’ Vegas and We Are One, Carnival Cruise Line), the star singer at The Cotton Club. The club’s world-famous song writer The Duke is played by Earl Gregory (TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, West End). Making up the cast are Llewellyn Jamal (TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, West End) as Jester, Cameron Bernard Jones (Ain’t Too Proud, West End) as Rev, Lifford Shillingford (Britain’s Got Talent, ITV) as Sweets, Tanya Edwards (Sister Act The Musical, UK tour) as Miss Mary, and Gleanne Purcell-Brown (Curtains, West End) as Ceecee.
The ensemble comprises Natalia Brown (Sister Act The Musical, West End), Freya Karlettis (Sleeping Beauty, Ipswich Regent Theatre), Amber Cayasso (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Bridge Theatre), Jarnéia Richard-Noel (SIX The Musical, West End), Andre Coulson (Five Guys Named Moe, The Gatehouse Theatre); Alex Okoampa (TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, West End), Spin (Sinatra, Birmingham Rep), and Dylan Blake-Colbet in his stage debut.
This exciting jazz musical is conceived by Sheldon Epps, with a book by Cheryl L. West. In the Cotton Club, New York City, a young songwriter arrives ready to make her name – but disguising herself as a man will give her a better shot in a male-dominated music world. As she meets club owner The Duke and sensational singer Lady Liv, Vy is swept up in a syncopated symphony of melodies, mistaken identities and romance.
Play On! is directed by Talawa’s Artistic Director Michael Buffong, with choreography by Kenrick Sandy, and musical supervision by Liam Godwin.
Play On! will tour to the Belgrade Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Bristol Old Vic, Liverpool Playhouse, Salisbury Playhouse and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.
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