1 month ago
EXCLUSIVE: David Ajala’s accumulation outfit VP & Chairman has joined nan London revival of Assata Taught Me arsenic Associate Producer.
Written and directed by Kalungi Ssebandeke (Meetings by Mustapha Matura), nan accumulation will tally from May 12-24 astatine London’s Riverside Studios. Clarisse Makundul (Under nan Kundè Tree) is besides an Associate Producer connected nan production.
The revival is simply a co‑production betwixt Lucie Lutte (Phone Killer) of LLUTTE Productions and Ssebandeke’s Sse So Productions.
Susan Lawson‑Reynolds (Three Little Birds, Luther: The Fallen Sun) will prima arsenic Assata Shakur, an American activist, author, and erstwhile Black Panther personnel who lived successful exile successful Cuba until her decease successful 2025. Starring other Lawson‑Reynolds will beryllium Ebenezer Gyau (Suspect), who will prima arsenic Fanuco Maceo, a disillusioned Cuban man unaware that his mentor has a $2m bounty connected her head.
The fictional two-hander finds an aged Assata Shakur still exiled connected a troubled Caribbean Island, wherever she’s approached by a section 21-year-old hopeless to unrecorded nan American Dream. Shakur died successful September 2025, aged 78. Cuban officials cited nan logic for her decease arsenic aged property and wellness conditions. News of her decease prompted wide chat of nan U.S government’s actions successful nan ineligible lawsuit that led to Shakur’s exile.
Originally produced by The Gate Theatre successful 2017 and directed by Lynette Linton (RSC The Boy Who Harnessed Wind) pinch Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton) and Kenneth Omole (Testament) starring, nan 2026 show will people nan first revival of nan production.
“At VP & Chairman, we are delighted to collaborate pinch like-minded talents for illustration Kalungi,” Ajala said successful a statement. “Transforming imaginative visions into powerful and impactful storytelling.”
