Gbolahan Obisesan News

The North Wall returns from Edinburgh Festival Fringe with two awards and a plethora of stars

Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres, Robert Hastie, today announces the full cast for the world première of Giles Foden's The Last King of Scotland, adapted for the stage by Steve Waters; and for their major revival of Charlotte Keatley's My Mother Said I Never Should in a co-production with fingersmiths.

Alice Vilanculo has won a Stage Award for her performance as Bailey in E8, written by former PRU worker, Marika McKennell, and directed by double Fringe First Award-winner, Ria Parry. In it she plays a vulnerable schoolgirl who falls through the cracks of an underfunded education system; she was praised by The Stage's reviews editor for a a?oelayered portrayal of a volatile teenage girl.a?? E8 is produced by The North Wall in association with the Pleasance.

Producer Vineyard Entertainment (a sole proprietorship) presents a New York showcase of FEAST: A Yoruba Project with a cast and crew from across the African Diaspora at the Dorothy B. Williams Theater at HERE, July 11 through July 14, 2019. The show will preview July 11th and open July 12th with an opening reception hosted by Taste of Africa USA. Following the 7pm show on July 13th, audience is invited to a 'talkback' with cast and designers.

New Perspectives has announced new casting for the return of their award-winning production of Chigozie Obioma's Booker Prize-shortlisted novel The Fishermen, with David Alade joining the cast in the role of Ben alongside Valentine Olukoga who will reprise the role of Obembe. David Alade has previously played the lead role of Thomas in Stormzy's short film Gang Signs & Prayer directed by Rollo Jackson for the BRIT Award winner's debut album release. Most recently, David has written and performed in Foxhunting (Courtyard Theatre), a verbatim drama drawing on transcripts of interviews with South Londoners about their experiences of knife crime.

In a unique collaboration, a wide-ranging group of arts organisations and human rights charities commissioned Ai Weiwei to design a new flag in response to the real and present dangers of a world changing at break-neck speed and a community that has forgotten why human rights are so important, to offer hope and to educate generations to come about the absolute importance of universal human rights. Everyone across the country is invited to Fly The Flag for Human Rights between 24 and 30 June 2019 in events around the UK, with over 150 organisations involved.

Today the full programme of events has been announced around Fly The Flag, a major new project marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and brand new images of Ai Weiwei with young people have been released.

Following a Stage Award winning run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018 and two sold-out runs at the Arcola, New Perspectives' adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Chigozie Obioma will be part of the British Council's Edinburgh Showcase before a six-week run at Trafalgar Studios. Gbolahan Obisesan has adapted the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa's major new voices, New Perspectives present Chigozie Obioma's powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.

Directed by double Fringe First Award-winner Ria Parry, E8 is a searing examination of life in an alternative provision school. Writer and spoken word poet Marika Mckennell has drawn from her personal experience working in PRUs (pupil referral units) in Hackney to paint a vivid portrait of young people who fall through the cracks in mainstream education. Taking place over an hour of real time, E8 tells the story of Bailey, a student waiting for a decision that will change her life, and her relationship with her peers and head teacher, who is preparing to leave the school. Cut through with humour and pathos, their interaction asks audiences how we can consider each other's past pain if it leaves no visible mark.

Producer Vineyard Entertainment (a sole proprietorship) is pleased to announce casting for the New York showcase run of FEAST: A Yoruba Project at the Dorothy B. Williams Theater at HERE, July 11 through July 14, 2019. The show will preview July 11th and open July 12th.

Following a Stage Award winning run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and two sold-out runs at the Arcola, New Perspectives' adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Chigozie Obioma will receive a West End transfer in September 2019. Gbolahan Obisesan has adapted the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa's major new voices, New Perspectives present Chigozie Obioma's powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.

As his production of Richard Hawley and Chris Bush's Standing at the Sky's Edge opens in the Crucible, Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres, Robert Hastie, announces programming for 2019.

Fly The Flag is a major new project marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In a unique collaboration, a wide-ranging group of arts organisations and human rights charities commissioned Ai Weiwei to design a new flag in response to the real and present dangers of a world changing at break-neck speed, to offer hope and to educate generations to come about the absolute importance of universal human rights.

Bristol Old Vic presents The Mountaintop as part of its continued commitment to re-examining Bristol's relationship with the past, highlighted through the theatre's ongoing Year of Change.

Following a Stage Award winning run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a sold-out week at the Arcola in September, News Perspectives adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Chigozie Obioma will return to the Arcola for a two-week run. Gbolahan Obisesan has adapted the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa's major new voices, New Perspectives in association with HOME present Chigozie Obioma's powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.

Katori Hall's The Mountaintop invites us to step into the private life of Martin Luther King for one night; one that hangs suspended in time, between his achievements and his final breath.

The North Wall Arts Centre today (1st October 2018) announces the appointment of its new Creative Associates. The ten companies and artists have been appointed by Co-Directors Ria Parry and John Hoggarth to inform the Oxford venue's artistic vision and to shape future collaborations. The Associates will be supported through R&D, residencies and co-productions.

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Sam Hodges, Reading Rep and producer Desara Bosnja announce the cast and full tour dates for the revival of the JMK production of The Mountaintop. The tour, which includes regional venues such as Bristol Old Vic, Northern Stage and Birmingham Rep is part of a touring network to support JMK productions and productions alike have a life outside of London. The cast for Katori Hall's The Mountaintop includes Gbolahan Obisesan (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) and Rochelle Rose (Camae). The production opens on 2 October, with previews from 26 September at Nuffield Southampton Theatres and runs for two weeks ahead of national tour to Northern Stage, Northwall, Reading Rep Theatre, Leicester Curve, Bristol Old Vic and Birmingham Rep.

Fringe First-winning playwright Gbolahan Obisesan adapts the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa's major new voices, New Perspectives in association with HOME present Chigozie Obioma's powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.