News: Hampstead Theatre announces cast for Alfred Fagon’s The Death of a Black Man

Hampstead Theatre has announced full casting for Alfred Fagon’s The Death of a Black Man, running at the venue from 28 May to 10 July.

Directed by Dawn Walton, the show features Nickcolia King-N’Da as Shakie, Natalie Simpson as Jackie and Toyin Omari-Kinch as Stumpie.

The play is a rare revival from the Black British playwriting canon, and will be performed in a new production which originally premiered at the Hampstead in 1975.

Raising many of the same questions we face today surrounding identity, capitalism and sexual politics, the play takes place in 1973 as the West Indies have spectacularly beaten England at their own game, in their own backyard.

Shakie, an 18-year old super-savvy wheeler-dealer, is in his element – and not just because of the cricket.  Life is good: his furniture business is making serious money and he owns a flat on the King’s Road, the epicentre of everything that’s cool.  Moreover, his best friend Stumpie has come up with a plan to crack the booming music industry together – the possibilities are endless so when Shakie’s ex-lover Jackie arrives at the Chelsea flat, the trio toast the future.

The champagne is flowing and ambition is running sky high – but how far will they go, and who will they sacrifice, in their quest to be rich beyond their wildest dreams?

Creatives include designer Simon Kenny, lighting designer Johanna Town, sound designer Richard Hammarton, composer Duramaney Kamara, movement director Rachael Nanyonjo, assistant director Nkechinyere Nwobani-Akanwo and voice and dialect coach Hazel Holder.

Hampstead Downstairs will also reopen this summer with the world premiere of Raya, a funny and tender new play by Deborah Bruce from11 June until 24 July.

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