Rakie Ayola

Review: THE AUTHENTICATOR, National Theatre
by Franco Milazzo - Apr 3, 2026

Eccentric artist Fenella Harford (Sylvestra Le Touzel) inherits her family’s stately home and uncovers a cache of hidden diaries that may rewrite its history. She recruits ambitious academic Marva (Rakie Ayola) to authenticate them, who in turn brings in her overlooked mentor Abi (Cherrelle Skeete), a meticulous expert with sharper instincts than she lets on. As the three women probe deeper into the documents, the house begins to yield uncomfortable truths about its colonial past. Personal histories begin to intertwine with national ones, tensions rise between the trio, and what starts as scholarly inquiry spirals into a confrontation with buried trauma, ownership, and the ghosts of Britain’s slave-trading legacy.

FIRST DAY ON EARTH Series Adds Bukky Bakray, Rakie Ayola, & More to Cast
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 1, 2026

Several new cast members have joined the cast of First Day on Earth, the HBO and BBC original drama from Michaela Coel. Among the new cast are Rocks star Bukky Bakray, West End alum Rakie Ayola, and stage and screen actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, among others. 

Photos: Rakie Ayola, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Cherrelle Skeete in THE AUTHENTICATOR in the UK
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 31, 2026

You can now get a first look at production photos of Winsome Pinnock’s new play The Authenticator, marking the first time one of her plays has premiered at the National Theatre.

Photos: In Rehearsal For THE AUTHENTICATOR At The National Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 3, 2026

Rehearsal photos have been released for THE AUTHENTICATOR, a new play by award-winning playwright Winsome Pinnock (Leave Taking), marking the first time one of her plays has premiered at the National Theatre.

National Theatre to Stage Winsome Pinock's THE AUTHENTICATOR
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 10, 2026

Rehearsals have begun for award-winning playwright Winsome Pinnock's (Leave Taking) new play The Authenticator, marking the first time one of her plays has premiered at the National Theatre.

Fuel Adds Three New Trustees To Board
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 9, 2026

Fuel has announced the appointment of Rakie Ayola, Selina Ocean, and Jenny Waldman CBE as new Trustees. The three join the organisation’s existing board as Fuel continues its producing and development work.

HAMLET New York Transfer and More Set for National Theatre 2026 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 9, 2025

The National Theatre has revealed further information about productions in 2026. The season will feature the New York transfer of Hamlet, and more! See the full season here.

Critics' Choice: Cheryl Markosky's Best Shows of 2024
by Cheryl Markosky - Dec 12, 2024

Grand dame Sian Phillips stealing the show, Adam Cooper giving an unexpected twirl and smaller theatre spaces punching above their weight. These are some of BroadwayWorld reviewer Cheryl Markosky's favourite theatre moments of 2024.

Photos/Video: Netflix Releases New Trailer and First Look Photos for KAOS
by Josh Sharpe - Aug 19, 2024

Netflix has premiered the official trailer for the upcoming series KAOS, alongside the first looks of Billie Piper, Suzy Eddie Izzard, and Debi Mazar. KAOS stars Jeff Goldblum as Zeus alongside Janet McTeer, David Thewlis, Rakie Ayola, and more. Watch the trailer and take a look at the new photos here!

Video: Jeff Goldblum is Zeus in New Trailer for Netflix Series KAOS
by Josh Sharpe - Jul 25, 2024

Netflix has dropped the teaser trailer for KAOS, the upcoming series starring Jeff Goldblum. From Charlie Covell KAOS is a bold, darkly comic, contemporary take on Greek mythology: exploring love, power, and life in the underworld. Watch the trailer now!

Review: MY FATHER'S FABLE, Bush Theatre
by Cheryl Markosky - Jun 25, 2024

If you're after tension, you'll find it aplenty in Faith Omole's new play at the Bush Theatre.

Photos: Inside Rehearsal For MY FATHER'S FABLE at the Bush Theatre
by Stephi Wild - May 24, 2024

My Father's Fable, a gripping story of grief, belonging, and a family on the edge opens at the Bush Theatre on 15 June. Check out rehearsal photos here!

Welsh National Opera Will Launch New Community Project in Ely and Caerau With Rakie Ayola
by Stephi Wild - May 22, 2024

On the anniversary of the public unrest that occurred in Ely and Caerau in 2023, Welsh National Opera has announced that it will launch a new community engagement project Ely Bridge, with the help of BAFTA award-winning actress Rakie Ayola.

Bush Theatre Reveals Season Lineup For Second Half of 2024
by Stephi Wild - May 1, 2024

Bush Theatre has announced productions for the second half of 2024. Learn more about the full lineup here!

Simon Russell Beale to Appear at Shakespeare's Globe's MOVING STORIES, in Support of the UN Refugee Agency
by Aliya Al-Hassan - May 25, 2023

On Sunday 25 June, Shakespeare’s Globe will host ‘Moving Stories’ in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. The event will include sketches, short plays and songs examining the experiences of refugees, and responses to the crisis.

Winners Announced for UK Theatre Awards 2022
by Blair Ingenthron - Oct 23, 2022

The 2022 UK Theatre Awards winners have been revealed in a lunchtime ceremony at London's Guildhall. The biggest winner of the day was Leeds Playhouse, who won three awards including UK's Most Welcoming Theatre, Best Design for Laura Hopkins & Simon Wainwright for Dracula: The Untold Story and Best Performance in a Musical for Divina de Campo for Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

BWW Review: THE GLOW, Royal Court
by Gary Naylor - Jan 28, 2022

Beautifully executed production is let down by a dud script

Photos: First Look at THE GLOW at Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
by Stephi Wild - Jan 26, 2022

All new production photos have been released for The Glow by Alistair McDowall directed by Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone.

Photos: Go Inside Rehearsals For THE GLOW at The Royal Court Theatre
by Marissa Tomeo - Jan 6, 2022

The Glow, written by Alistair McDowell, will be playing at The Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, London from January 24th until March 5th, 2022. Press night will be on January 27th at 7 pm. Directed by Vicky Featherstone, the show features Fisayo Akinade, Rakie Ayola, Tadhg Murphy, and Ria Zmitrowicz. 

MOULIN ROUGE! Leads January's Top 10 New London Shows
by Marianka Swain - Jan 4, 2022

Though hardly an ideal start to the new theatrical year, we want to applaud all of the incredible casts, creatives, backstage and front-of-house staff who are working so hard to keep shows on. If you can support productions, please do – whether revisiting an amazing long-running show or checking out something new. And speaking of which: here are some of the most intriguing London additions for this month. Keep checking back for our reviews, interviews and features!