Casting Announced for Southwark Playhouse's Epic Samurai Family Show Usagi Yojimbo

Jonathan Raggett (CBBC's Woolfblood, Luc Besson's The Lady) makes his stage debut in the title role of Usagi Yojimbo starring alongside Haruka Kuroda (presenter of CBBC's Officially Amazing)

Southwark Playhouse presents USAGI YOJIMBO

Based on the comic book by Stan Sakai.
Adapted for the stage by Stewart Melton. Directed by Amy Draper. Designed by Ele Slade.
Lighting by Joshua Pharo. Sound by Max Pappenheim. Original music composed by Joji Hirota.

Cast: Amy Ip. Haruka Kuroda. Siu Hun Li. Jonathan Raggett. Dai Tabuchi.
Press night: Wednesday 3 December 2014 at 7pm
Run: Friday 28 November 2014 - Sunday 4 January 2015

"One of the most original, innovative, well executed comic books anywhere to be found."
Stan Lee, co-creator of Spiderman, The Hulk, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and X-Men

17th Century Japan. A world of bandit racoons, feline ninjas and warring animal clans.

A young rabbit leaves home, family and friends behind him in pursuit of one ambition: to become a great samurai warrior. Trained by a maverick old lion sensei - a teacher of the warrior's code known as Bushido - Usagi learns that the way of the samurai is one of peace and perfection - not just masterful swordsmanship. But as war engulfs the land, he must make a choice that will test his loyalty, honour and dearest friendship.

This Christmas join our long-eared hero on the adventure of a lifetime as he takes his fate in to his own paws.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this long-running comic book series featured the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and has won numerous accolades including three Eisner Awards and the Parents' Choice Award. Adapted for the stage for the first time with special permission from creator Stan Sakai and featuring stunning design, video projection and original live music, Usagi Yojimbo is an epic adventure for the whole family and recommended for ages 8+.

Stan Sakai says 'I couldn't be happier that Southwark Playhouse is presenting the first stage adaptation of Usagi Yojimbo at their theatre this Christmas. Having spent the last three decades with Usagi I'm very excited that his story is going to be lifted from the pages of my comic book on to a London stage. A perfect 30th birthday present! I wish the creative team every success and I can't wait to see it.'

The Press on Southwark Playhouse's previous Christmas shows:

'Southwark Playhouse's heroically ambitious Christmas show' Time Out Critics' Choice on Howl's Moving Castle (2012)
???? 'Startlingly imaginative' Metro on Howl's Moving Castle (2012)

???? 'High on lively, crystal-clear story telling... quirky and hauntingly beautiful' The Telegraph onAnansi: An African Fairly Tale (2010)

'Southwark Playhouse's brand is as quirky as it is classy... resonance as well as simplicity and humour to satisfy both adults and children' The Stage on Anansi: An African Fairly Tale (2010)

Creator Stan Sakai was born in Kyoto, Japan, grew up in Hawaii, and now lives in California. He received a Fine Arts degree from the University of Hawaii, and did further studies at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. His creation Usagi Yojimbo first appeared in Albedo Comics in 1984. Since then, Usagi has been on television as a guest of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and as toys, on clothing, in comic books, and in a series of trade paperback collections. In 1991, Stan createdSpace Usagi, the adventures of a descendant of the original Usagi, dealing with the samurai in a futuristic setting. Stan is also an award-winning letterer for his work on Sergio Aragonés' Groo the Wanderer, the Spider-Man Sunday newspaper strips as well as Usagi Yojimbo. He is the recipient of a Parents' Choice Award, an Inkpot Award, multiple Eisner Awards, two Spanish Haxturs, an American Library Association Award, The Cultural Ambassador Award from the Japanese American National Museum and a National Cartoonists' Society Division Award. Usagi Yojimbo Book 12: Grasscutter was used as a textbook in Japanese history classes at the University of Portland. Stan has spoken at various venues including the College of William & Mary, Johns Hopkins University, the Connecticut Historical Society, and the Japan Tower in Brussels, Belgium. He is currently published by Dark Horse Comics and Fantagraphics Books. There are over thirty volumes of his collected works in print.

Adaptor Stewart Melton is a writer and director. Followers, his adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, was Southwark Playhouse's Schools Shakespeare production this year. Other plays include He She It and Peter Is Not Here (Company of Angels), Two Endless Minutes (Young Vic Taking Part),Symmetry (Southwark Playhouse Schools Tour) and Imagine You Are Everyone (The Yard). Forthcoming plays include Seesaw (Unicorn Theatre). Directing includes Imagine You Are Everyone and his own freely adapted version of Othello (The Space).

Director Amy Draper previously directed the stage adaptation of Louis de Bernieres' Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World at Southwark Playhouse (2012). Other directing credits include Life on the Refrigerator Door (Yard Theatre), Splinters (Ovalhouse), The Door (Park Theatre), Angel Cake (Camden People's Theatre) and the community show for the CASA Latin American Theatre Festival in 2013. Forthcoming projects include These Trees are Made of Blood, which was an Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award finalist in 2012 and developed at BAC. Amy was Resident Assistant Director at the Finborough Theatre and Tour Director on the national tour of Childsplay by SPID Theatre.

Amy Ip plays Atsuko. Her theatre credits The Emperor's Quest (Edinburgh Festival), Superplays Return(Soho Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (UKTT - Middle East Tour), The Winter's Tale (The Barn Theatre), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Bridewell Theatre), Around the World in Eighty Days (BAC). Amy was also one of the founding actors of the The Scoop, More London Summer Season. Productions there include The London Nativity, Treasure Island, Children of Hercules, Androcles and the Lion andOedipus. Film credits include Common People, The Vampire of Bloody Island. Television credits includeRichard and Judy and Casualty.
Haruka Kuroda plays Mariko. She trained at the Guildford School of Acting. She is a popular voice-over artist and was the voice of the character 'Noodle' from international pop band Gorillaz. She is also a television presenter on CBBC's Officially Amazing. Theatre credits include In the Beginning was the End(dreamthinkspeak), Around the World in 80 Days (Liverpool Playhouse), Little Sunshine Little Rainfall (A Thousand Cranes), My Life in CIA (Give It A Name), The Paper Washi Wish (A Thousand Cranes), The Nightingale (Yellow Earth Theatre) and Ali Baba and Forty Thieves (Illyria). Television credits include CBBC's Officially Amazing, Hebburn, Chaos Laboratories, Ideal, Brain Jitsu, Things Talk, Hiroshima,Broken News, Grass, Jonathan Creek (all for BBC), Thunderbirds Are Go!, The Bill (both for ITV) andAnne and Katy (Channel 4). Film credits include Foster, Swinging with the Finckels, Random 11-part 1,Iris, One Minute Past Midnight which won the Best Short Film at Chicago Film Festival in 2005. She is also a qualified Stage Combat Instructor (British Academy of Dramatic Combat) and fight/ movement director. She has taught at various drama schools and workshops in the UK and Europe.

Siu Hun Li plays Kenichi. He trained at RADA. Theatre credits include Whisky Kisses, Yellow on the Broom, The Admirable Crichton (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), The Golden Child (New Diorama Theatre),The Orphan of Zhao, Boris Godunov, A Life of Galileo (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Wood Orchid/ Sixty Six Books (Bush Theatre), Pandas (Traverse Theatre), Coalition (Theatre503), 365 ( National Theatre of Scotland). Television credits include Casualty and Spirit Warriors. Film credits include The Angels Share, Johnny English Reborn, Foster, Perfect Sense and My Dad the Communist.

Jonathan Raggett plays Usagi. He is best known for playing Jimmi in popular CBBC drama Wolfblood. His film credits include The Lady directed by Luc Besson and starring Michelle Yeoh, and Kashuro inDani's House. He also plays a lead in Trafficker which will released early next year. Usagi Yojimbo is his stage debut.

Dai Tabuchi plays Katsuichi. His theatre credits include Paradise (Theatre Rites) and The Overcoat(Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith and World Tour). Film credits include Scopia, All that Remains, The Angel's Share, 47 Ronin, Shanghaim, Basho, Chosyu Five, Munich, Kizuna and Office Party. Television credits include You Me and Them, Chuggington, Mr Bean, Kodawari Life Europe, Cloud Upon the Slope, Mr Yamaguchi, Masamune the Sword Master, The Terror in Tokyo Underground, Sekai Gyouten Story, andHolby City.

Listings Information

Venue: Southwark Playhouse

77-85 Newington Causeway
London SE1 6BD

Nearest Tube: Borough / Elephant and Castle

Performances: Friday 28 November 2014 - Sunday 4 January 2015

Tuesday to Sunday at 7pm
Thursday matinees at 1.30pm
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2.30pm

For full listings visit the website

Box Office

Online: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

24 HOURS/NO BOOKING FEES

By Telephone: 020 7407 0234

NO BOOKING FEES

Ticket Prices

Previews £10
£18, £16 (conc.)
£60 (Family ticket, 4 tickets - at least 1 adult, 1 child)

Concessions

Students, Under 16's, Unwaged, Registered disabled, Equity, Over 65's

Registered disabled patrons can bring one companion free of charge.

Keep up to date on Twitter

@swkplay / #usagi2014