Monique Touko

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING in Rehearsal at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Mar 4, 2026

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre have released rehearsal images ahead of the UK premiere of the Tony Award-winning play Jaja’s African Hair Braiding which runs at the venue from Wednesday 18 March – Saturday 25 April 2026. Check out the photos here!

Review: THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS, Rose Theatre
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Feb 12, 2026

Today we are wearily familiar with the terms 'Stop the Boats' and the narrative that all refugees are coming to Britain to take 'our' jobs, scam us for benefits and prey upon young girls. Nick Ahad's adaptation of Onjali Q. Raúf's beautiful book, The Boy at the Back of the Class, takes much of the political heat out of the issue with a hopeful and very human production for all ages.

Photos: Rose Theatre and Children’s Theatre Partnership Present THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 11, 2026

THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS is now playing at Rose Theatre in a stage adaptation of Onjali Q. Raúf’s novel. Directed by Monique Touko and adapted by Nick Ahad. Check out photos of the show.

Video: Behind the Scenes of JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING
by Michael Major - Jan 30, 2026

Watch a video of Ndidi (Bola Akeju), Aminata (babirye bukilwa), Miriam (Jadesola Odunjo), Bea (Dolapo Oni) – along with manager Marie (Sewa Zamba) and director Monique Touko share what this sacred place.

Cast Set For JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING at Lyric Hammersmith
by Stephi Wild - Jan 28, 2026

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre had announced casting for the UK premiere of the Tony Award-winning play Jaja's African Hair Braiding which runs at the venue from Wednesday 18 March – Saturday 25 April 2026.

Cast and Creative Team Set For THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS
by Stephi Wild - Jan 13, 2026

Rose Theatre and Children's Theatre Partnership have announced full casting and further creative team for the 2026 return and tour of the adaptation of Onjali Q. Raúf's multi award-winning children's book The Boy at the Back of the Class.

New Dates Including Southbank Centre Added to UK Tour Of THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS
by Stephi Wild - Oct 31, 2025

New dates have been announced as part of the 2026 UK Tour of The Boy at the Back of the Class.  The tour will now also play at Southampton's Mayflower Studios, Edinburgh's Festival Theatre, Eastbourne's Devonshire Park Theatre, and more.

Beverley Knight and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu Will Lead West End Premiere of MARIE AND ROSETTA at @sohoplace
by Stephi Wild - Sep 29, 2025

The West End premiere of Marie and Rosetta is set for next year. Reprising their roles are multi-award winning singer and actress Beverley Knight as Rosetta Tharpe and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu making her West End debut as Marie Knight.

JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING and More Set For Lyric Hammersmith's 2026 Season
by Stephi Wild - Sep 15, 2025

All three are razor-sharp comedies, set across a single day, inviting audiences into vivid, pressurised worlds, and investigating how we both understand and misunderstand each other.

Manchester International Festival 2025 to Open with New Works Across the City
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 3, 2025

Manchester International Festival 2025 officially gets underway at 6pm today as a herd of life-sized puppet animals stampede through the streets of Manchester to launch the festival, travelling north to flee climate disaster. Learn how to attend!

THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS to Launch 2026 UK Tour
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 20, 2025

The Boy at the Back of the Class, a celebration of friendship, kindness and compassion, is back with a 2026 UK Tour. See the list of tour dates and locations here and learn more!

Photos: Beverly Knight and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu in MARIE AND ROSETTA
by Stephi Wild - May 9, 2025

All new production images have been released for the UK premiere of George Brant’s (Grounded) critically-acclaimed Marie and Rosetta. Check out the photos here!

Full Cast Set For The World Premiere of LIBERATION at Royal Exchange Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 29, 2025

Liberation, a new play by poet and playwright Ntombizodwa Nyoni, directed by Monique Touko, will receive its World Premiere as part of Manchester International Festival 2025.

MISS MYRTLE'S GARDEN Cast and Creatives Revealed at the Bush Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 14, 2025

Miss Myrtle's Garden will open at the Bush Theatre, London next month.  This world premiere production, written by Danny James King, is directed by Bush Theatre's Artistic Director, Taio Lawson.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN and More Set For Royal Exchange 2025-26 Season
by Stephi Wild - Apr 3, 2025

The Royal Exchange Theatre has announced it's upcoming season including Singin' In the Rain, directed by Raz Shaw. Learn more about the upcoming season here!

Full Cast Set for MARIE AND ROSETTA UK Premiere Starring Beverley Knight
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 20, 2025

The Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT revealed the full cast and creative team for the UK premiere of George Brant’s Marie and Rosetta. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.

Natalie Dormer, Giles Terera and More Set For Chichester Festival Theatre's 2025 Season
by Stephi Wild - Feb 14, 2025

Chichester Festival Theatre’s Festival 2025 has been announced by Artistic Director, Justin Audibert and Executive Director, Kathy Bourne. Festival 2025 includes five world and two UK premieres, two musicals, and masterpieces from world drama.

Beverley Knight Will Lead UK Premiere of MARIE AND ROSETTA
by Stephi Wild - Jan 14, 2025

Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT have announced the UK premiere of George Brant’s Marie and Rosetta, the play with music telling the true story of American singer and songwriter Rosetta Tharpe and her protégé Marie Knight.

Review: G, Royal Court Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - Sep 1, 2024

Magical realism is hard to come by in the theatre. Playwright Tife Kusoro dips into urban legends and creepypasta to deliver a fascinating coming-of-age piece. With stunning direction by Monique Touko, G is a brilliant supernatural cautionary tale - a description that’s, admittedly, not entirely accurate nor comprehensive of everything the play is. Kusoro infuses her work with surrealism and harsh socio-political critique, pure banter and sheer terror. It’s young and fresh and ingenuously subversive. It’s a comic thriller, but also an unsettling allegory and a story about the power of friendship and loyalty. Kusoro is definitely onto something.

Cast and Creatives Set For G at the Royal Court Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Jun 21, 2024

The Royal Court has announced the cast and creative team of G by Tife Kusoro (SW1 Project). The cast are Selorm Adonu (Brother’s Keeper), Kadiesha Belgrave (Grud) and Ebenezer Gyau (Dear England) and the director is Monique Touko (School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play).