Cast announced for revival of Nine Night at Leeds Playhouse

The cast has been announced for a revival of Nine Night celebrating the rituals of a traditional Jamaican wake.

The production at Leeds Playhouse from 24th September to 15th October invites audiences into a traditional Nine Night Jamaican wake for family matriarch Gloria. As the story unfolds her children and grandchildren gather to mark her passing during a night full of humour and deep sorrow as they share memories, good food and grievances older than Gloria’s well-loved dining table.   

This new production of Natasha Gordon’s comedy follows a successful West End run in 2018 which was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and won three awards in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.

Its three-week run in Leeds is staged in partnership with the Out of Many Festival, which takes its name from the Jamaican national motto Out of Many, One People. The nine-month festival by Jamaica Society Leeds will bring productions showcasing Jamaican music and history to Leeds Playhouse and across the city to celebrate 60 years of Jamaican independence.

Directed by Amanda Huxtable the full company who will bring this family to life on stage includes qualified barrister, but now full-time actor, producer and fundraiser Shereener Browne who will play Gloria’s daughter Lorraine, and Daniel Poyser who is Robert was last seen at the Playhouse in the critically acclaimed production of The Crucible as Reverend John Hale.

Jessica Whitehurst plays Anita, Andrea Davy is Trudy and the company is completed by Josephine Melville as Maggie, Wayne Rollins playing Vince and Jo Mousley as Sophie, who makes a return to the Playhouse after being in their Ensemble company’s productions of Road, Europe and A Christmas Carol.

“Like everything worth doing gathering our teams together wasn’t easy,” says Amanda Huxtable. “It took patience, deep listening and belief that the right combination of people from our region and our country could tell this tale at this time for our audiences. This is it. Nine Night 2022 soon come. We can’t wait to share what we find.”

As well as theatre and music, the Out of Many Festival features art, exhibitions, family, film, literature and heritage events, with high-profile national and international artists and collaborations alongside grass roots community events.

To book 0113 213 7700 or www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk