The Playground Theatre, Sohaya Visions and Mukul and Ghetto Tigers present
AGATHE
17 APR - 4 MAY
Written by Angela J. Davis
Directed by Mukul Ahmed
With Natasha Bain, Matthew Faucher, Rio Attoh-Wood, Maria Austin, and Jordon Kemp
Producers Raminder Kaur and Mukul Ahmed
Set designer Esme Solomon
Lighting designer Tracey Hammill
Sound designer Tarun Jasani
Graphic Designer Marco Gra
Stage Manager Colbert Newsome
Marking 30 years since the 1994 genocide against Tutsi people in Rwanda, AGATHE tells the true story of the extraordinary woman who became Rwanda’s head of state for less than a day. Created through extensive research including first-hand accounts from witnesses and survivors of the genocide, Angela J. Davis’s new play explores the life of a Chemistry professor and advocate for women and girls’ education, Agathe Uwilingiyimana. When a plane crashes and takes the life of African president, Juvénal Habyarimana, it ignites a killing spree that the world will later recognize as the 1994 genocide against Tutsi people in Rwanda. Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, the first and so far only woman to hold the role, becomes the next in line for the country’s presidency but just 14 hours later Agathe is assassinated. Angela J. Davis’s play brings Agathe’s silenced story to light as a beacon for our times and an overlooked woman in history.
Playwright Angela J. Davis said, “I have a longstanding interest in women who are overlooked by history and Agathe Uwilingiyimana’s story struck me as particularly compelling. A woman of science and education, as well a shining example of the power of love and bravery during one of the darkest moments in history.”
BOOKING INFORMATION
Duration: 80 mins
Interval: 15min
Content Warnings:
Recommended for 12+
Tickets (All unreserved)
Early Bird £18 (until 10th April)
Preview £15
General Admission £24
Senior 60+ | Student | Unemployed £20
THURSDAY'S STUDENT NIGHT £8
Access for All £20
Note: Please contact boxoffice@theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk for your complementary ticket for a carer/companion/friend
For any enquiries and Student Offers contact us at boxoffice@theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk
Extra shows 30th April – 1st May | Tues – Wed 7.30pm
Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, London SE25 6AB
Sohaya Visions celebrates internationalism and cutting-edge diversity through the arts. Since they were established in 2015, they have co-produced 20 new projects bringing bold new writing to the stage, including breaDth (Omnibus Theatre, 2023), Bodies (filmed drama during the pandemic, 2021), and Silent Sisters (ACCA, Hawth, Rich Mix, 2016, 2017). They have also co-produced an international competition and festival for scriptwriting, RAFTA: Rise Against Fanaticism Through the Arts, which has led to 15 rehearsed readings and the staging of 4 new dramas of global significance including an R&D presentation of Agathe.
Mukul and Ghetto Tigers feature new writing and a fresh look at the classics, both western and subcontinental. It has become a platform for emerging talent alongside veteran artists. Major productions include LONDONEE (Rich Mix, 2011), Debdas (Rich Mix and international tour, 2014), Romeo and Juliet (national and international tours, and Theatre Olympics, India 2018), Oscar and the Lady in Pink (Pinter Studio, and international tour, 2016, 2018), Gauhar Jaan – the Datia Incident (Omnibus Theatre, 2018), and Mrityu Ghar/Olga’s Room (BRM Festival India and international tour, 2020).
CAST | CREATIVES | PRODUCTION TEAM
ANGELA J. DAVIS
Playwright
Angela J. Davis is a multi-award-winning playwright and the author of The Spanish Prayer Book (The Road Theatre Company 2019-20 season; L.A. Times Best Bet (“a literate meditation on the boundaries of art and social responsibility”), Griswold (recently showcased in NYC with Annette Bening in the title role and in London at the Playground Theatre with Martha Plimpton), AGATHE (world premiere forthcoming at the Playground Theatre (dir. Mukul Ahmed, producers Sohaya Visions and Mukul and Ghetto Tigers), and Clara and Serra and the Talking Bear (commissioned and produced by Antaeus Theatre Company), among other plays.
Recent work presented/forthcoming at The Playground Theatre (London), Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Playhouse Creatures (NYC), Playhouse on the Square, The Landing Theatre, Antaeus Theatre Company, Chameleon Theatre Circle, HRC Showcase, The Road Theatre Company, The Blank Theatre, Theatre In the Raw (Vancouver), The Dayton Playhouse, Viterbo, and elsewhere.
Playwriting honors include: A is For Playwriting Prize, Playhouse Creatures (NYC) Emerging Playwrights Celebration Winner (twice), Marsha A. Croyle Award for Achievement in Playwriting, Henley Rose Playwriting Award, Jane Chambers Award top-four finalist, Eugene O’Neill NPC semi-finalist (four times).
Degrees from Stanford and UCLA; member of Dramatists Guild, PEN America, and the Antaeus Theatre Company Playwrights Lab.
NATASHA BAIN Agathe
Natasha played Oriolo in the BAFTA winning Zinky Boys Go Underground directed by Paul Tickell. She has performed at the Donmar, the National Theatre, the Barbican and various regional theatres. Her most recent credits include a US tour playing Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Jamil's mother in the Netflix and BBC drama, You Don't Know Me.
RIO ATTOH-WOOD Mbaye
Rio Attoh-Wood is a Voiceover artist and actor in Suspicion (Apple TV), Riches (Amazon Prime/TV), The Baby (HBO), and Twelfth Night (BBC Radio). He features as a main programme announcer for ITV as well as a voice of Virgin Atlantic, Capital Xtra, Capital Dance Radio, Global Radio, Dentsu Aegis Network, Amazon, Channel 4, Turner, Comedy Central, Disney, Netflix, and many others.
MARIA AUSTIN Carrie
Maria is an English/Irish actress, trained at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York. Theatre credits include The Sisterhood at Leicester Square Theatre, Loot at Century Theatre, and Mr Paradise at Trafalgar Studios. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Rome Prisma Film Awards for her performance in Monster Heart and has recently featured in the Kaleidoscope Film Tell That to the Winter Sea due to be released later this year.
MATTHEW FAUCHER Lucas/Radio Announcer
Matthew is a British Actor-Musician born in Uganda and of St.Lucian heritage. Theatre includes Offie nominated Hairy’devised with Spymonkey, the UK’s longest running physical comedy theatre company and ‘Brown Mark’ in ITV’s Breaking the Band - Prince and the Revolution. He has previously appeared in award winning shorts and features including the BIFA nominated A Fox in the Night and Black Sand - A Sandman Story, and BBC film Dirty God, which screened at Sundance Film Festival.
JORDAN KEMP Addie
Jordan trained at Drama Centre London. He appears in the audio drama series Seeds on Spotify produced by No Stone Theatre. His theatre credits include Gauhar Jaan at Omnibus Theatre, and previous productions with the companies - Allah’s Own Country, Rivers with Diamonds and the R&D of AGATHE. Jordon is currently working on a feature film adaptation of the stage play This Is Living by Liam Borrett.
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