Casting has been announced for the Kiln Theatre’s forthcoming revival of Lynn Nottage’s Mlima’s Tale.
Directed by Miranda Cromwell (Death of a Salesman), the cast includes Ira Mandela Siobhan (Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-Written, My Brilliant Friend) as Mlima, with Gabrielle Brooks (Once on This Island, Get Up Stand Up), Pui Fan Lee (Teletubbies/CBeebies) as Gouxi, Brandon Grace (Much Ado About Nothing) as Andrew, and Natey Jones (Death of a Salesman) as Geedi.
Mlima’s Tale is playing at the Kiln Theatre from 14 September to 21 October 2023.
Mlima’s Tale is a powerful and unforgettable story of the ivory trade and its corruption.
The creative team also includes design by Amelia Jane Hankin, lighting design by Amy Mae; music by Femi Temowo; Casting Director Lotte Hines CDG; Voice & Dialect Coaching by Hazel Holder; Kiln Mackintosh Resident Assistant Director Jessica Mensah.
Mlima’s Tale runs from 14 September – 21 October 2023 at Kiln Theatre London.
Book tickets to Mlima’s Tale at the Kiln Theatre in London
More about the cast of Mlima’s Tale
Gabrielle Brooks plays Githinji. Her theatre credits include Once on This Island (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Get Up Stand Up (Lyric Theatre), J’Ouvert (Harold Pinter Theatre), Anna Bella Eema (Arcola Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre),Twelfth Night (Young Vic), The Way of the World (Donmar Warehouse), Queen Anne (Theatre Royal Haymarket/ RSC), The Wizard of Oz (Sheffield Crucible), Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Sheffield Crucible), Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre), The Strangers Case (Liverpool Everyman Theatre), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre) and Our House (Savoy Theatre). For television her credits include Shadow and Bone and Coming Down The Mountain. For film, her credits include Notes on A Scandal. She is creator and Producer of BlackStage UK – an emotional and educational exposé on what it means to be Black in the UK Arts industry, featuring 30 Black and Black mixed-raced workers from across the sector and from all over the UK.
Pui Fan Lee plays Gouxi. Her theatre credits include Short, Fat, Ugly and Chinese (London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and later recorded for BBC Radio, winning the Commission for Racial Equality’s Race in Media Award), The Baby (The Bush), The Lower Depths (Cardboard Citizens), Jungle Book (Redgrave) and Moonshine (Hampstead Theatre). Her television work includes Po in the original Teletubbies, and was one of the first presenters on CBeebies. Her other work on CBeebies include roles as presenter, writer, co-creator, actor in Show Me Show Me, Old Jack’s Boat (co-created with Chris Jarvis), The Tempest, A Midsummer’s Night Dream and A Christmas Carol. Her other writing includes various platforms pan CBeebies, The Chris and Pui Show and Peppa Pig’s First Cinema Experience: Festival of Fun. Her other television credits include Desmond’s, Eastenders, The Bill, MIT, Chef!, Metrosexuality, State of Play, The Nevers, Landscapers, Slow Horses and Andor. For film, her work includes Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Mary Reilly.
Brandon Grace plays Andrew. His theatre work includes Much Ado About Nothing (National Theatre), Kick, Abandon (Lyric Hammersmith), Rush (Baron’s Court Theatre), and Stacked (Almeida Young Company); and for television, My Lady Jane and Fate: The Winx Saga.
Natey Jones plays Geedi. His theatre work includes The Harder They Come (Public Theatre, New York), Get Up, Stand Up (Lyric Theatre), Rockets and Blue Lights (Royal Exchange Theatre), Death of a Salesman (Piccadilly Theatre), Small Island (National Theatre), One Love: The Bob Marley Musical (Birmingham Rep), Doctor Faustus, Don Quixote, The Alchemist (RSC) and Tomorrow (The White Bear). For television, his work includes Casualty, Father Brown, and Waffle the Wonder Dog; and for film, Pretty Red Dress, Together, and Alpha & Omega.
Ira Mandela Siobhan plays Mlima. His theatre credits include Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-Written (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), My Brilliant Friend (The National Theatre), Equus (ETT and Trafalgar Studios), The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe (Leeds Playhouse), My Brilliant Friend – Parts 1 & 2 (Rose Theatre Kingston), Mosquitoes (National Theatre), Imogen (Globe Theatre), Running Wild (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Everyman (The National Theatre), Macbeth (The National Theatre), The Wind in the Willows (Vaudeville Theatre), The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable (Punchdrunk), A Season in the Congo & Feast (Young Vic), Can We Talk About This (DV8 Physical Theatre) Lifeguard (National Theatre of Scotland), Fela! (The National Theatre). For television, his work includes The Crown, History of a Pleasure Seeker, The Third Day, Brave New World and The Last Hours of Lisa Lopez; and for film, Barbie, Mission Impossible 7, London Road, Pan, Desert Dancer and To Be Straight With You. Movement direction credits include Addictive Beat (Boundless Theatre), Strike (Southwark Playhouse)
