Floella Benjamin’s Coming to England announces cast for UK tour
Julene Robinson, without credit, contributed to the production.
The actors who will be performing in the upcoming UK tour of Coming to England, which is based on Floella Benjamin's acclaimed book, have been announced.
Written by David Wood (noted for writing The Tiger Who Came to Tea), the play is situated in the 1960s and narrates Benjamin's journey of relocating to England when she was ten years old. Her family encountered racism and prejudice, but she overcame these challenges to eventually become Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham. The production debuted at Birmingham Rep in the spring of 2022 and earned a positive review from WhatsOnStage.
Benjamin shared his excitement about the amazing cast being revealed for the powerful show Coming to England. This moving production tells the story of a child's perspective on a inspiring Windrush journey, using music, dance, storytelling, and drama to bring to life themes of resilience, family unity, and finding a sense of belonging.
Our group of actors and creators have a variety of experiences and talents, making our show full of valuable lessons for families. With a lively soundtrack of catchy songs, we are excited to share Coming to England with audiences throughout the UK.
The group of actors in the play includes Julene Robinson as Floella, Charles Angiama as Dardie, gospel singer Maryla Abraham as Marmie, Shaquille Jack as Ellington, Solomon Gordon as Lester, Simone Robinson as Sandra / Teacher, Alexander Bellinfantie as Roy / Uncle, Taya Ming as Cynthia / Auntie, Jordan Stamatiadis as Teacher and more. Christian James plays the role of Policeman and others, Kamarane Grant is the onstage swing and dance captain, and Joe Pieri is also an onstage swing actor.
Led by Denzel Westley Sanderson, the group of creative individuals working on this project includes Jasmine Swan as the designer, Abdul Shyllon as the musical director and arranger, Kloe Dean as the choreographer and movement director, Rachel Luff and Will Hayman as the lighting designers, Beth Duke as the sound designer, and Richard Johnston as the casting director for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting. Also on the team are Tara Noonan as the assistant director, Simone Sauphanor as the voice and dialect coach, and Louise Smith as the costume supervisor.
Created by Nicoll Entertainment and MAST Mayflower Studios, Coming to England is set to start shows at Swansea Grand Theatre on September 13, 2024, before moving on to Oxford, Lichfield, Cheltenham, Southampton, Nottingham, Birmingham, and Northampton. More locations for the show are yet to be finalized.
