FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

IDRIS ELBA AND KWAME KWEI-ARMAH’S TREE

For more information, Manchester International Festival (MIF), the and Green Door Pictures images, quotes and today announce the full cast for Tree, which will receive its world premiere this interview requests July at Manchester International Festival, before transferring to the Young Vic in please contact: .

Maisie Lawrence Senior Publicist Created by Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah, this new collaboration is an 020 7831 7657 electrifying blend of drama, music and dance which follows one man’s journey [email protected] into the heart and soul of contemporary South Africa – with the audience at the centre of the action. The full cast includes: Christian Bradley; Lucy Briggs- Philippa Redfern Senior Publicist Owen; Sinéad Cusack; Kurt Edyiawan; Alfred Enoch; Anna-Kay Alicia 020 7831 7657 Gayle; Joan Iyiola; Anthony Matsena; Daniella May; Patrice Naiambana; [email protected] Mbulelo Ndabeni and Andile Sotiya. www.mif.co.uk Directed by Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director of London’s Young Vic, with music inspired by Elba’s album Mi Mandela, Tree is an exhilarating show about identity, family and belonging, seen through the eyes of one man on the toughest journey of his life. Elba will produce along with Green Door Pictures.

It’s just 12 hours from London to his parents’ homeland, but to Kaleo (Alfred Enoch), South Africa is another world. A family tragedy finally forces him to visit for the first time – and as he takes his journey of healing, Kaleo must confront hidden histories and right the wrongs of the past. But first he must face the

present: a shattered family, fighting to hold on to what they believe is theirs, in a nation haunted by the ghosts of its own turbulent past.

Director Kwame Kwei-Armah said: “I feel genuinely privileged to be working with this incredible group of actors, dancers and musicians to bring to life our

shared vision for Tree, inspired by Idris’s intoxicating Mi Mandela album. As a director and as a producer, what excites me most is our attempt to blur the genre lines; Tree places the audience, standing, at the centre of the action – almost like a club, or a gig – and at the same time it takes them on a theatrical journey

with a narrative that emotionally engages. We held some workshops with Alfie Enoch earlier this year, and the atmosphere in that room was fascinating. Now that the wonderful Sinead Cusack has joined us, along with a phenomenally talented group of multi-disciplined artists, I cannot wait to get into rehearsals and prepare to bring that infectious energy to audiences at MIF and the Young Vic

later this year.”

Christian Bradley’s theatre credits include Orpheus Descending: Light & Shadow (Manchester Royal Exchange); Incoming (Hightide/Latitude); Lidless

Page 1 of 7 (Trafalgar Studios); Macbeth (Shakespeare's Globe); Pan (Northern Stage); Bonduca (O.A.E.); Stovepipe (National Theatre/Hightide/Bush); Our Friends in The North (Northern Stage);The Seduction of God (The Wrestling School); Macbeth (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Paradise Lost (Headlong); The Romans In Britain (Crucible Sheffield); Scapino The Trickster (Purcarete/Chichester); 5/11 (Pimlott/Chichester); Antigone (Cheek by Jowl/Old Vic); Merlin (Library Manchester); Mariana Pineda (The Gate); Peer Gynt

( Playhouse); The Stoning (BAC); The Disputation, High Jumpers, Family and Penthesilea (Hampstead; Schweyk (Copeau Festival, France). Film

and TV includes: Merlin; Rugby Road; Tainted Heart; Finishing School; Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

For more information, Lucy Briggs-Owen’s theatre credits include: Out of Water (Orange Tree); images, quotes and Present Laughter (Chichester Theatre); The Divide, Future Conditional and interview requests please contact: Fortune’s Fool (Old Vic); The Rivals (Bristol Old Vic); The Night Watch (Manchester Royal Exchange); Communicating Doors (Menier Chocolate Maisie Lawrence Factory); Shakespeare in Love (West End); Midsummer Night’s Dream, Boris Senior Publicist Godunov and The Orphan of Zhao (RSC). Television includes: A Very English 020 7831 7657 [email protected] Scandal; Doc Martin; Siblings.

Philippa Redfern Sinéad Cusack is an award-winning actress, renowned for her extensive career Senior Publicist both on stage and screen. Theatre credits include: (Duke of York’s 020 7831 7657 Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre); Stitchers (Jermyn Street Theatre); [email protected] Splendour (Donmar Warehouse); Our Few & Evil Days (Abbey Theatre); Other www.mif.co.uk Desert Cities (Old Vic Theatre); Juno and the Paycock *(National and Abbey Theatre); Rock ’n’ Roll (Royal Court) - Olivier Award nomination and Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play); The Birds (The Gate), The Cherry

Orchard and The Winter’s Tale (The Bridge Project). She has also played many award-winning and award-nominated leading roles for the RSC. Her performance in Our Lady of Sligo at the National Theatre and on Broadway saw her win The Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle awards for Best Actress, as well as an Olivier nomination. Film includes: Queen & Country (IFTA Award

nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role); The Sea (Winner of the IFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role); Eliza Graves; Wrath of the Titans; Eastern Promises; Cracks; V for Vendetta; Tiger’s Tail (IFTA Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role); Mathilde; I Capture the Castle; Bad

Behaviour; Dream; My Mother Frank; Passion In Mind; Stealing Beauty; The Clement Garden; The Nephew; Waterland; Venus Peter. Television includes: MotherFatherSon; Moving On; Call the Midwife; Marcella; A Room With A View; Poirot; Midsomer Murders and North & South.

Kurt Egyiawan graduated from Guildhall in 2011. He won the Spotlight Prize in 2010 and was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award for the best classical stage performance by an actor under 30. Theatre Credits Include: Mood Music (Old Vic); Othello and Measure for Measure (Shakespeare’s Globe); The

Crossings Plays (Royal Court); The Rise and Shine of Comrade Fiasco (Gate Theatre); Richard III; (both The Belasco Theatre); Season in the Congo (Young Vic Theatre); Berenice (); Henry V (Shakespeare’s Globe); Earthquakes in London (Headlong); King Lear and The Frontline (both Shakespeare’s Globe). Film Credits Include: Beasts of No Nation;

Pan; Kill Your Friends and Skyfall.

Page 2 of 7 Alfred Enoch’s theatre work includes , at the Wyndham’s Theatre alongside , King Lear (as Edgar), directed by Michael Buffong; (as Titus), directed by Josie Rourke; Timon of Athens (as Philotus), directed by Nicholas Hytner; Antigone (Chorus) directed by Polly Findlay; Happy New (as Danny) directed by Robert Shaw; Dinner (as Mike) directed by Anna Fax; The Ballad Of Salomon Pavey (as Kit) directed by Jeremy Taylor. He is also known for his recurring role as Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter film series. Enoch’s

work in television includes Michael Offer’s How To Get Away With Murder; and Sherlock, directed by Colm McCarthy. Alfred is currently starring in hit BBC show

Trust Me’s second season.

Anna-Kay Alicia Gayle is a Jamaican born, London based dancer. Since For more information, graduation, Anna-Kay has performed and taught workshops in France, Italy, images, quotes and Brazil and St. Lucia in a range of styles including contemporary, dancehall, interview requests please contact: waacking, vogue and African dances.

Maisie Lawrence Joan Iyiola’s theatre credits include: The Duchess of Malfi, A Midsummer Senior Publicist Night’s Dream, The White Devil, Arden of Faversham, The Roaring Girl, 020 7831 7657 [email protected] The Orphan of Zhao, Boris Godunov and A Life of Galileo (RSC), Boudica & Omeros (Shakespeare's Globe); They Drink it in Philippa Redfern the Congo (Almeida); The Convert, Eclipsed & The Rise and Shine Of Comrade Senior Publicist Fiasco (Gate Theatre); Season in the Congo (Young Vic); 24 Hour Plays (Old 020 7831 7657 Vic). Television credits include: Enterprice (BBC/ Fudge Park [email protected] Productions); (BBC/); New Blood (BBC/Netflix); www.mif.co.uk (Working Title /Sky 1). Film includes: Denial; The Dead Sea; Words; Show Dogs.

Anthony Matsena was born in Bulaway, Zimbabwe and grew up in . He is a Sadler’s Wells young associate and the Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director and Choreographer of Matsena Performance Theatre alongside his brother Amukelani. The company creates work that draws upon highly physical movement, theatre work and text. He graduated from London Contemporary

Dance School in 2018. He previously performed at Sadler’s Wells in 2015 as part of Apex Rising with National Youth Dance Wales, and has performed professionally for Joseph Toonga as part of Just Us Dance Theatre. Anthony’s work has been shown at prestigious venues Sadler’s Wells, Guildhall School of

Music and Drama, The Place and The Bunker.

Daniella May is a dancer who has toured nationally and internationally working in various dance styles such as contemporary, commercial, urban and African. She has worked with the likes of Uchenna Dance; Southpaw Dance

Company; Stomp West End and International Tour; Tavaziva Dance; BBC; Blue Pete; and many more.

Patrice Naiambana’s theatre credits include: Barber Shop Chronicles, Pericles

(National Theatre); The Caretaker (Bristol Old Vic); The New Nigerians, Iyalode of Eti, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi, Tell Them That I'm Young and Beautiful (Arcola Theatre); Iyalode of Eti (Duchess of Malfi) Tour (Utopia Theatre); The Histories, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Cymbeline, (Royal Shakespeare Company); Othello (Royal Shakespeare Company

National Tour); Pericles (Globe Theatre); Perception Gap, The Man who Committed Thought, The Gospel of Othello (Tribal Soul Arts); Corialanus (West Page 3 of 7 Yorkshire Playhouse); The Griot's Tale (Yinka Shonibare Studios); Macbeth in Pidgin (Akogun Nigerian adaptation) (Ritual Theatre Arts). Film credits include: ; Spectre; Monochrome; Son of God; Albert Schweitzer; Highlander; the Source. Television includes: Nina and the Neutrons; Tinga Tinga Tales; Casualty; Torchwood; Silent Witness.

Mbulelo Ndabeni is a South African born London-based choreographer, dancer,

teacher, movement director and director of N’da Dance Company. He has performed with top dance U.K and International companies such as Cape Town

City Ballet; New Adventures; Rambert; Company Wayne McGregor; Alesandra Seutin Vocab Dance; Ballet Black and Tavaziva. He has created own works including launching his company N’da Dance Company’s ‘NaY Triple Bill’; Cape For more information, Town City Ballet; ADAD’s Bloom Festival; English National Ballet School; images, quotes and Rambert’s new choreographic seasons; Cloud Dance Festival; The Print Room interview requests please contact: and Horniman Museum. His work has been presented at Richmix; Sadler's Wells Lilian Baylis; Queen Elizabeth Hall and ROH Linbury Studio Theatre. Maisie Lawrence Senior Publicist Andile Sotiya is a South African born dancer, teacher and choreographer. As a 020 7831 7657 [email protected] teacher he has taught extensively around the UK and in South Africa leading classes, workshops and residencies. He has taught company classes for the Philippa Redfern likes of DV8 and Disney’s The Lion King. He was the rehearsal director with Ace Senior Publicist Dance and Music for their TEN production and tour 2016/17. In 2002 and in 020 7831 7657 2006/7 he toured with Kylie Minogue’s Fever World Tour and Showgirl Home [email protected] Coming Tour. He has also worked with her on various other projects including www.mif.co.uk MTV European Awards in , Top of the Pops, CDUK and a tour of America amongst others.

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Co-creator of Tree, Golden Globe and SAG winning Idris Elba captivates audiences as an actor, producer, director and musician. He is the first actor to receive dual SAG awards in one evening. After playing significant roles on the small screen in some of the UK’s top-rated shows, Idris landed the role of

Stringer Bell in HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Wire (NAACP Image Award nomination). In 2010, Elba appeared as the title character on the BBC mini-series Luther, which earned him a Golden Globe, SAG Award and four Emmy nominations. The series returns in 2019 for its fifth season. His film

credits include American Gangster (Golden Globe nomination), Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom (Golden Globe nomination); Beasts of No Nation (SAG award, Golden Globe nomination); The Mountain Between Us; Avengers; and the Oscar-nominated film Molly’s Game. Behind the camera, Elba made his feature film directorial debut at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival with Yardie. In

2013, Elba founded his production company, Green Door Pictures to champion diversity of thought. With Green Door, Elba released the documentary Mandela, My Dad and Me, produced the TV mini-series Guerrilla for Showtime and created, produced and appears in the Sky comedy series In the Long Run. He

also created, produces and stars in the new Netflix comedy series Turn Up Charlie, which premiered in March 2019. Next up, Elba will star in Universal’s Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw as well as the movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical Cats. In 2018, Elba was named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.

Page 4 of 7 Kwame Kwei-Armah is Artistic Director of the Young Vic. He was previously the Artistic Director of Baltimore Center Stage where he directed: Jazz, Marley, One Night in Miami, Amadeus, Dance of the Holy Ghosts, The Mountaintop, An Enemy of the People, The Whipping Man and Things of Dry Hours. Other work as a director includes: Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing, Detroit’67 (Public Theatre, New York); The Liquid Plain (Signature Theatre, New York and Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Porgy and Bess

(Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) the Olivier Nominated One Night in Miami for Best New Play 2016 (Donmar Warehouse) and One Love (Birmingham

Repertory Theatre). As a playwright his credits include One Love (Birmingham Repertory Theatre); Beneatha’s Place (Baltimore Center Stage); Elmina’s Kitchen, Fix Up, Statement of Regret (National Theatre); Let There Be Love and For more information, Seize the Day (Tricycle Theatre). Kwame was Artistic Director for the Festival of images, quotes and Black Arts and Culture, Senegal, in 2010. He conceived and directed the interview requests please contact: opening ceremony at Senghor National stadium. He was an Associate Director of the Donmar Warehouse and has served on the boards of the National Maisie Lawrence Theatre, Tricycle Theatre, and Theatre Communications Group. Kwame was the Senior Publicist Chancellor of the University of the Arts London from 2010 to 2015, and in 2012 020 7831 7657 [email protected] was awarded an OBE for Services to Drama. In 2012, 2013 and 2014 Kwame was named Best Director in City Paper’s Best of Baltimore Awards and in 2015 Philippa Redfern was nominated for the prestigious Stage Directors and Choreographers Zelda Senior Publicist Fichandler Award for Best Regional Artistic Director. In 2016 he was awarded 020 7831 7657 the Urban Visionary Award alongside House Representative Elijah Cummings by [email protected] the Center for Urban Families for his work in the Baltimore community. www.mif.co.uk A Manchester International Festival, Young Vic and Green Door Pictures co- production.

In association with Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Bob Benton for Anthology Theatre, Eilene Davidson and Dawn Smalberg for Ragovoy Entertainment.

Creative Team Created by Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah Director Kwame Kwei-Armah

Set & Costume Designer Jon Bausor Choreography Gregory Maqoma Lighting Designer Jon Clark Sound Designer Paul Arditti Video Designer Duncan McLean

Music Supervisor/Composer Michael Asante Dramaturg Mongiwekhaya Casting Director Pippa Ailion CDG Associate Director Paul Morris

IMAGES AND VIDEO FOOTAGE CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM press.mif.co.uk/mif19 For the full festival programme, please visit www.mif.co.uk

ENDS

LISTINGS

Page 5 of 7 Tree Upper Campfield Market Hall 4 – 13 July, 8pm (Previews 29 June – 3 July) Matinees 6-7, 13 July, 4pm Press night 4 July, 8pm Recommended 14+, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

Book tickets

mif.co.uk Standing tickets from £30 / Concessions £5 off £10 for Greater Manchester residents on a lower wage For more information, images, quotes and All orders subject to a per transaction fee of £2 (no per ticket fees) interview requests please contact: This is a standing event. Maisie Lawrence Senior Publicist Tree 020 7831 7657 [email protected] Young Vic 29 Jul 2019 - 24 Aug 2019, 7.30pm (Previews (29 - 31 July) Philippa Redfern Wednesday & Saturday Matinees: 2.30pm Senior Publicist Press night 1 August 7pm 020 7831 7657 [email protected] Book tickets www.mif.co.uk youngvic.org Tickets from £10

About MIF Manchester International Festival (MIF) is the world’s first festival of original, new work

and special events, staged every two years in Manchester, UK. MIF launched in 2007 as an artist-led festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture. The next Festival takes place from 4 – 21 July 2019.

MIF has commissioned, produced and presented world premieres by artists including Marina Abramović, Damon Albarn, Björk, Boris Charmatz, Jeremy Deller, Elbow, Wayne McGregor, Steve McQueen, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Thomas Ostermeier, Maxine Peake, Punchdrunk, The xx, Robert Wilson and Zaha Hadid Architects.

MIF brings together world-renowned artists from different art forms and backgrounds to create dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking new work, staged in venues across Greater Manchester – from theatres, galleries and concert halls to railway depots, churches and car parks. MIF works closely with venues, festivals and other cultural organisations globally, whose financial and creative input helps to make many of these projects possible and ensures that work made at MIF goes on to be seen around the world.

MIF’s year-round Creative Community programme also works widely within

Manchester with a community of creative people from all backgrounds, ages and corners of the city who are forging closer connections with the Festival.

MIF’s Artistic Director and CEO is John McGrath. MIF will also be the operator for The Factory, a new world-class cultural space being developed in Manchester, which will commission, present and produce new work from for the world’s greatest artists, offering a space to make, explore and experiment.

Page 6 of 7 MIF is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. www.mif.co.uk

Green Door Pictures Idris Elba founded Green Door Pictures in 2013 with the mission of developing new and established talent to champion inclusion as well as diversity of thought and ideas. The slate covers Scripted and Non-Scripted Television, Film and Digital content.

Recent credits include the comedy ‘In The Long Run’, created by and featuring Idris Elba as part of an ensemble cast including Bill Bailey, in co-production with Sprout Pictures. It received a Broadcast Digital Award for Best Comedy Programme. Credits also include Netflix Comedy series ‘Turn Up Charlie’, a co-production with Brown Eyed Boy, co-created and starring Idris Elba with the title track ‘Luv’ co-created by him also.

For more information, images, quotes and Green Door also produced short-form drama series ‘5x5’ in collaboration with BBC interview requests Studios as part of ‘The Idris Takeover’, a week long takeover of online channel BBC3 please contact: and executive produced ‘Guerrilla’ written by John Ridley in collaboration with Fifty Fathoms Productions, ABC Signature, Sky and Showtime. Production is underway on a Maisie Lawrence new series of ‘In The Long Run’. Senior Publicist 020 7831 7657 [email protected] Young Vic Based on The Cut in London’s Waterloo, we produce new plays, classics, musicals, Philippa Redfern adaptations of books, short films, digital projects and game changing forms of theatre. Senior Publicist We attract large audiences from many different backgrounds, and forge deep 020 7831 7657 connections in our neighbourhood where we provide extensive free activities. For many [email protected] years the Young Vic has been synonymous with inclusivity, accessibility and creativity.

We foster emerging talent and collaborate with some of the world’s finest directors, www.mif.co.uk performers and creatives; creating productions that say much about the world we live in.

Artistic Director: Kwame Kwei-Armah Executive Director: Despina Tsatsas

www.youngvic.org

Twitter and Instagram @youngvictheatre live in.

The Young Vic’s Supporters The Young Vic receives public subsidy from Arts Council England and Lambeth &

Southwark Borough Councils.

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