Full company announced for Andrea Levy's THE LONG SONG at Chichester Festival Theatre

Photo credit: Seamus Ryan

Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of Suhayla El-Bushra’s adaptation of The Long Song by Andrea Levy, which runs at Chichester Festival Theatre from 1–23 October.

The company includes Tara Tijani (who makes her professional debut as July), Llewella Gideon (Old July), Olivia Poulet (Caroline Mortimer), Ben Adams (Tam Dewar/Charles Wyndham), Cecilia Appiah (Miss Clara), Andrew Bridgmont (John Howarth/Baptist Minister), Leonard Buckley (Robert Goodwin), Pérola Congo (Miss Bessie/Molly), Miranda Foster (Elizabeth Wyndham), Trevor Laird (Dublin/Godfrey), Syrus Lowe (Thomas/Nimrod), Chris Machari (Cornet/Musician), Mohammed Mansaray (Boy/Ezra), Rebecca Omogbehin (Kitty) and Carol Walton (Miss Rose).

‘You do not know me yet but I am the heroine of this drama. I am told that here I must give a taste of what is to unfold. I am to convey that this tale is set in Jamaica during the last turbulent days of slavery and the early years of freedom.

‘I was born a slave upon a sugar plantation named Amity. I was there when the Baptist War raged in 1831, and when slavery was declared no more. It tells of my mama Kitty, of the negroes enslaved, of Caroline Mortimer the woman who owned me. I am to say that it is a true and thrilling journey through that unsettled time.’

‘Cha, I say, what fuss-fuss. Come, let them just see it for themselves.’

July is born into slavery in Jamaica and is brutally parted from both her mother, and her name. But what she retains is resilience, charisma and a subversive, spirited wit. This ebullient and life-affirming play finds humanity, resistance and hope in the darkest of times.

Directed by Charlotte Gwinner, the production features design by Frankie Bradshaw, lighting by Mark Doubleday, composition, arrangements and musical direction by Michael Henry, sound by Helen Skiera, and video by Dick Straker.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.