Cast Announced For Jitney
CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR AUGUST WILSON’S CLASSIC DRAMA JITNEY, OUR CO-PRODUCTION WITH LEEDS PLAYHOUSE
Headlong and Leeds Playhouse have today announced the company of JITNEY, August Wilson’s poetic American drama playing in Leeds from 16 October to 6 November.
JITNEY stands out as one of the great American contemporary classics. Filled with conflict, love, jealousy and deceit, this groundbreaking drama is set in 1970s Pittsburgh and explores the fragile bond between eight unlicensed cab drivers as they live, love and work in racially segregated, post-war America. The production will be directed by Tinuke Craig (The Color Purple, Leicester Curve in association with Birmingham Hippodrome).
The cast comprises:
Tony Marshall (Fielding) who recently finished a 12-year run as Noel Garcia in BBC One’s Casualty. His character left the show in a BAFTA award-winning episode about the strains on the NHS during the pandemic.
Andrew French (Becker) is known to Leeds Playhouse audiences having starred in the original version of Benjamin Zephaniah’s Refugee Boy which kickstarted the theatre’s journey to becoming the world’s first Theatre of Sanctuary. Andrew also starred in Zodwa Nyoni’s Boi Boi is Dead and played Shere Khan in the Playhouse’s Christmas production of The Jungle Book. Other recent work includes Two Trains Running (ETT National Tour with Royal & Derngate, Northampton) and the RSC’s A Winter’s Tale.
Geoff Aymer (Doub) recently starred in Two Trains Running (ETT National Tour with Royal & Derngate, Northampton) and The Color Purple, (Leicester Curve in association with Birmingham Hippodrome).
CJ Beckford (Youngblood) was most recently seen in Dominic Savage’s I Am Danielle (Channel 4). Prior to this, CJ played Michael in the National Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Small Island.
Leanne Henlon (Rena) joins the production after recently starring in seven methods of killing kylie jenner (Royal Court Theatre). Solomon Israel’s (Shealy) theatre credits include Ravens (Hampstead Theatre) and Barber Shop Chronicles (National Theatre and USA tour).
Dayo Koleosho’s (Philmore) most recent theatre credits include a workshop of The Darkest Part of The Night (Kiln Theatre).
Leemore Marrett Jr (Booster) is best known for playing Patrice Campbell in BBC One’s Death in Paradise.
Leeds Playhouse audiences will know Sule Rimi (Turnbo) from the acclaimed production of Barber Shop Chronicles.
Director Tinuke Craig said: “I’m really excited to have the chance to spend time with this iconic play and its wonderful characters. August Wilson is one of my favourite playwrights and I am thrilled to be making this show.”
Joining Tinuke Craig on the creative team are Set & Costume Designer Alex Lowde, Lighting Designer Elliott Griggs, Sound Designer and Composer Max Perryment, Movement Director Sarita Piotrowski, Associate Director Prime Issac, Voice and Dialect Coach Eleanor Manners and Casting Director Jacob Sparrow.
JITNEY, a Leeds Playhouse and Headlong co-production, will run at Leeds Playhouse from 16 October – 6 November.
Leeds Playhouse is welcoming audiences back into the building safely. The Playhouse will continue to abide by national guidelines and will keep audiences informed about its ongoing covid safety measures.