Casting Set for London 'Big White Fog' at the Almeida

Michael Attenborough, Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre, will direct the European Premiere of African-American playwright Theodore Ward's Big White Fog. Big White Fog will open on May 11 with press night on May 17 and runs until June 30. Designs are by Jonathan Fensom with lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by John Leonard. Big White Fog is sponsored by Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

Big White Fog is "set in Chicago between 1922 and 1933 and follows the lives of the Mason family and the pursuit of their different and opposing beliefs, as they steer a course through post WW1 racism and the Great Depression. Supported by wife Ella, Vic's loyalty is to Marcus Garvey's separatist Back to Africa movement, while his brother-in-law Dan is committed to the American Dream, believing that the black community can and will prosper and succeed. Ward's landmark family drama reveals how these battling factions fare during this raw and vivid period of American history," according to production notes. 

The cast includes: Ayesha Antoine (Caroline), Tony Armatrading (Daniel Rogers), Martin Barron (Patrolman), Aaron Brown (Nathan Piszer), Lenora Crichlow (Claudine), Clint Dyer (Percy Mason), Jenny Jules (Ella), Tunji Kasim (Lester), Al Matthews (Count Strawder), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Wanda), Novella Nelson (Martha Brooks), Susan Salmon (Juanita), Danny Sapani (Victor Mason), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Older Phil/Count Cotton), Gynn Sweet (Bailiff) and Tony Turner (Marks/Lieutenant).

American dramatist and author of more than 30 plays, Theodore Ward was born in Louisiana in 1902, the sixth child of eleven. His father, born into slavery, was the local schoolmaster, his mother, who secretly educated him, died when he was 14. As a result of the consequent break-up of his family, Ward travelled on the railroad as a boy hobo, performing odd jobs wherever he could find them. He finally settled in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was jailed for selling bootleg gin. After winning second prize in a writing competition he joined the Chicago Writers' Workshop, who, in 1938, produced his first full length play, Big White Fog. It was then produced in Harlem in 1940 where it was presented as the first play to be staged by the Negro Playwrights' Company – formed by Ward, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright and Paul Robeson, amongst others, to provide a working theatre for Negro artists. Ward lived and worked in Chicago from 1968 until his death in 1983.

As Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre Company Michael Attenborough's productions have been The Mercy Seat, Five Gold Rings, Brighton Rock, The Late Henry Moss, and Enemies. His production of Big White Fog will be the first to be produced outside America. As part of the Tricycle Theatre's extensive and continuing commitment to plays, old and new, by black writers, their Literary Manager (now the Almeida's Artistic Associate) came across Big White Fog.  

The Almeida's Writer in Residence Roy Williams has been commissioned to write a new play, Out of the Fog, specifically inspired by Theodore Ward's Big White Fog. It has been written especially for young people in North London and was created with the help of young students from Islington Schools who took part in workshops led by the Director of Almeida Projects, Rebecca Manson Jones.

Over 1,500 students will see Out of the Fog, which will play during the day time on Lez Brotherston's Dying For It set and will be directed by Matt Wilde. Almeida Projects are leading over 70 introductory workshops to prepare each student for their visit to the play. 15 schools from Islington, Hackney, Harringey and Hampstead will attend the performances. The cast is: Claire Benedict, Naomi Bentley, Nicole Charles, Emmanuel Idowu, Cecilia Noble and Javone Prince.

Visit www.almeidatheatre.co.uk for more information.

Under the Almeida's new initiative – Bring The Family - those involved in the creation Out of the Fog, along with those who come to see the production, will be entitled to reduced price tickets for themselves and their friends and family for Big White Fog.

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