Soho Theatre announces casting for debut plays

Soho Theatre today announces the full casting for two world premieres, both playwriting stage debuts, of David Baddiel’s God’s Dice and Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong and Simone Ibbett-Brown’s Shuck ‘n’ Jive.

Aakesha Arie-Angelo, Simone Ibbett-Brown, Tanisha Spring, Olivia Onyehara and Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong. Photo: Conor Jatter

Casting has been anounced for Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong and Simone Ibbett-Brown’s Shuck ‘n’ Jive. Directed by Soho Theatre’s Associate Director Lakesha Arie-Angelo, Olivia Onyehara (Jack Lear, Hull Truck) will take on the role of ‘Simone’ and Tanisha Spring (Caroline, or Change, Playhouse Theatre) will take on the role of ‘Cassi’ in this subversive debut play told with music, laughter and searing honesty.

Opera singer Simone very quickly discovered that London was not the BNP-free utopia she’d always dreamed of. Meanwhile, actress Cassi is bored battling it out for the illustrious roles of Sassy Friend, Spunky Slave, and Third Crack Whore From The Left at every audition. Desperate to be seen as they are, not as the colour of their skin, they decide to seize back control and write their own play. .

Shuck 'n' Jive has set and costume design by Ranya El Rafaey, lighting design by Jai Morjaria, sound design by Anna Clock, movement direction by Diane Alison-Mitchell and casting by Nadine Rennie CDG.

Alan Davies and Leila Mimmack. Photo: Helen Maybanks

Soho Theatre and Avalon have announced the full casting for the world premiere of David Baddiel’s first original stage play God’s Dice. The previously announced Alan Davies (Jonathan Creek and QI) will star in this electric tragicomedy about the power of belief and our quest for truth in a fractured world. Joining Alan will be Olivier Award nominee Alexandra Gilbreath (The Provoked Wife and Twelfth Night at RSC), Nitin Ganatra (BBC’s EastEnders), Leila Mimmack (ITV’s Home Fires and Debris at Southwark Playhouse) and Adam Strawford (The Plough and The Stars at Lyric Hammersmith).

What would happen if someone was able to prove, scientifically, the existence of God? When Edie, a student in university lecturer Henry Brook’s physics class, seems to do exactly that, his universe - including his marriage to celebrity atheist author Virginia - is rocked. Science and religion go head-to-head in a ferociously funny battle for power, sex, fame and followers.

God's Dice is directed by James Grieve, set and costume designs by Lucy Osborne, lighting design by Ric Mountjoy, sound design by Dominic Kennedy, video design by Ash J Woodward, and casting by Nadine Rennie CDG.

David Luff, Creative Director of Soho Theatre, comments: “We’re thrilled to be producing two debut plays this autumn, showcasing the depth and breadth of artistic talent at Soho Theatre whilst continuing to strengthen our programme of bold new plays. Following many years on our stages as a comedian, David Baddiel’s playwriting debut features a fantastic cast led by Alan Davies. Also this autumn, our Associate Director Lakesha Arie-Angelo directs the exciting debut by Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong and Simone Ibbett-Brown, an unexpected and subversive story of two young women trying to find their theatrical feet in a closed-shop world.”

Shuck 'n' Jive runs at Soho Theatre Upstairs from 2 - 26 October 2019.

God's Dice runs at Soho Theatre from 24 - 30 October 2019.

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