UK News: Kwame Kwei-Armah to star in his own award-winning play

Kwame Kwei-Armah TO STAR IN HIS OWN AWARD-WINNING PLAY

ELMINA'S KITCHEN

By Kwame Kwei-Armah

Directed by Angus Jackson

The winner of the 2003 Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright, Elmina's Kitchen is a darkly hilarious firecracker of a play written by Kwame Kwei-Armah. First presented by The National Theatre in 2003, Elmina's Kitchen will commence a UK tour at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 25 February – 5 March.

After many theatrical successes as both an actor and a playwright, capturing the hearts of the British public as Finlay Newton in Casualty, becoming runner-up in Celebrity Fame Academy, releasing a soul album and even appearing alongside some of Britain's most important politicians on Question Time, Kwame now takes to the stage again to appear in his own play. He will play Deli, an ex-boxer and desperate father attempting to make an honest living whilst trying to hold both his business and family together. Whilst searching for the winning formula to make his Caribbean café a success, he tries to keep his son away from the lure of Hackney's 'murder mile.' But in a place where acceptance comes on four wheels and respect through the barrel of a gun, how can a man save his son from temptation?

Elmina's Kitchen was Kwame's debut play for The National Theatre and his most recent play, Fix Up opened at The National Theatre last December. His previous writing credits include Hold On (Durham Theatre Royal / national tour), A Bitter Herb (Bristol Old Vic), Blues Brother Soul Sister (Bristol Old Vic and national tour) and Big Nose (Belgrade Theatre Coventry).

Appearing alongside Kwame Kwei-Armah will be Don Warrington who is perhaps most famous for his part as black student Phil, in the BBC series Rising Damp. Michael Obiora joins Dona Croll, Oscar James and Shaun Parkes from the original Elmina's Kitchen cast.

Angus Jackson directs Elmina's Kitchen . His recent productions include Fix Up (National Theatre), Fuddy Meers, Dealer's Choice and My Night With Reg (Birmingham Repertory Theatre) , Up On The Roof (Minerva, Chichester) and, Sexual Perversity In Chicago and The Shawl (Sheffield Crucible).

Musicians Juldeh Camara, Atonga Zimba and Rory McFarland will perform before and during the performance live music.

The production will be designed by Bunny Christie with lighting by Hartley T A Kemp and music by Neil McArthur. The Elmina's Kitchen UK tour is presented by Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company and The National Theatre.

Elmina's Kitchen

By Kwame Kwei-Armah

Told with humour, music and gritty dialogue this remarkable play by Kwame Kwei-Armah, tells the story of Deli, a man desperately trying to hold his business and family together whilst keeping his son on the straight and narrow. Casualty actor and Celebrity Fame Academy runner up Kwame stars as Deli.

Friday 25 February to Saturday 5 March

Performance Times: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, apart from Tuesday 1 March at 7.00pm

Matinees at 2.30pm on Thursday 3 and Saturday 5 March

Previews: Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February

Spotlight – pre-show talk: Wednesday 2 March

After Dark – post-show discussion with The Acting Company: Friday 4 March

Sign language interpreted performance with Harjit Jagdev: Friday 4 March

Ticket Prices: £10 to £19.50

Box Office: 0121 236 4455

Book online www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Elmina's Kitchen – Tour Dates

Liverpool Playhouse

Tuesday 8 March to Saturday 12 March 2005

Box Office: 0151 709 4776

Bristol Old Vic

Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 March 2005

Box Office: 0117 987 7877

The Lowry, Salford Quays

Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 March 2005

Box Office: 0870 787 5790

Quarry Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse

Wednesday 30 March to Saturday 9 April 2005

Box Office: 0113 213 7700