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The full creative team has been announced for the UK premiere of Play On!, the jazz-fuelled,
Twelfth Night-inspired musical that will tour the UK from September 2024 – February 2025,
including a winter run at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. From Talawa, the UK’s outstanding Black
theatre company, this joyous, musical retelling of Shakespeare’s beloved play brings to life the
1940s New York jazz scene, set to a timeless, toe-tapping Duke Ellington score.
This exciting jazz musical is conceived by Sheldon Epps, with a book by Cheryl L. West. In the
Cotton Club, New York City, a young songwriter arrives ready to make her name – but disguising
herself as a man will give her a better shot in a male-dominated music world. As she meets the
club’s world-famous songwriter The Duke and sensational singer Lady Liv, Vy is swept up in a
syncopated symphony of melodies, mistaken identities and romance.
Play On! will tour to the Belgrade Theatre, Liverpool Playhouse, Salisbury Playhouse,
Birmingham Hippodrome, Bristol Old Vic, and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from September 2024
– February 2025. Play On! is produced by Talawa Theatre Company and Belgrade Theatre,
Coventry in partnership with J Clare Productions and Chuchu Nwagu Productions, with co producers Birmingham Hippodrome; Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres; Lyric Hammersmith Theatre; and Wiltshire Creative, Salisbury. Talawa and partners are proud that Play On! will provide opportunities for mid-career global majority talent to work on a large-scale
production and tour. In line with Talawa’s commitment to platforming African diaspora actors
and creatives, the season’s Associate Programme and seed commissions address under representation in the sector
This production boasts an impressive creative team, including acclaimed director Michael Buffong, choreographer Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, and musical supervisor Liam Godwin. Joining them is a talented cast led by Tsemaye Bob-Egbe as Viola, who seeks to make her mark on the New York jazz scene, and Koko Alexandra as the star singer at The Cotton Club. With an ensemble of accomplished performers, this production promises to deliver a captivating exploration of the vibrant world of the 1940’s New York Jazz scene
The partners are committed to supporting Black artists to create theatre across the country.
Play On! is at the heart of Talawa’s 2024 Black Joy season, which is generously supported by Arts
Council England and National Lottery.
Listings
Play On!
Location Belgrade Theatre
Dates 23rd September – 5th October 2024
National Press Night Thursday 26th September
Tickets On sale 1st April 2024
Location Liverpool Playhouse
Dates 15th – 19th October 2024
Tickets https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/whats-on
Location Salisbury Playhouse
Dates 21st October – 2nd November 2024
Tickets https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/category/salisburyplayhouse
Location Birmingham Hippodrome
Dates 4th – 9th November 2024
Tickets https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/whats-on/
Location Bristol Old Vic
Dates 16th – 25th January 2025
Tickets www.bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/play-on
Location Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
Dates 28th January – 22nd February 2025
Tickets www.lyric.co.uk
