Eclipse and Sheffield Theatres Join For ONE MONKEY DON'T STOP NO SHOW

Eclipse Theatre and Sheffield Theatres will revive Don Evans' seminal play One Monkey Don't Stop No Show this autumn. The new production, directed by Eclipse Theatre's Artistic Director Dawn Walton, will open at the Crucible Studio Theatre, Sheffield, running from Saturday 10 - Saturday 24 September before embarking on a UK tour.

Award-winning actor and comedian Jocelyn Jee Esien will play mother Myra in the play, joined by Roger Griffiths as Avery, Daniel Francis as Caleb, Isaac Ssebandeke as son Felix, Ayesha Antoine as Beverley, Michelle Asante as L'il Bits and Jacqueline Boatswain as Mozelle.

This production of One Monkey Don't Stop No Show will be the regional première of Don Evans' play. Evans (1938 - 2006) was an American playwright and part of the Black Arts movement of the 1970s. Associated with the Crossroads Theatre of New Brunswick, New Jersey, he wrote eighteen plays and his writing was hugely influential to the development of US TV Sitcoms such as The Cosby Show.

Jocelyn Jee Esien plays Myra. Jocelyn made history as the first black female comedian to write and star in her own television series, Little Miss Jocelyn (BBC), as well as starring in 3 Non Blondes and The Lenny Henry Show. Her theatre credits include Torn (Arcola), The Lion and The Jewel (Royal Court) and Racing Demon (Chichester Festival Theatre).

Roger Griffiths plays Avery. His theatre credits include The Graft (Stratford Theatre East) and Radio Golf (Tricycle Theatre). On television he played Everton in Lenny Henry's Chef! as well as appearing in Channel 4's Dubplate Drama and BBC1's Rock and Chips, Holby City and EastEnders.

Daniel Francis plays Caleb. Theatre includes roles in Eclipse Theatre's The Hounding of David Oluwale, Off The Endz (Royal Court), The Brothers Size (ATC/Young Vic),The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night (RSC). His television credits include Eternal Law and Law and Order.

Isaac Ssebandeke plays Felix. Isaac returns to the Crucible Studio Theatre after playing Wayne in There's Only One Wayne Matthews, part of the Crucible's reopening season last year. His other theatre credits include The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui (Lyric Hammersmith). For television, his credits include Dubplate Drama, Holby City, The Well and Skins.

Ayesha Antoine plays Beverley. Her theatre credits include The Mountaintop (Derby LIVE) and Red Riding Hood (Theatre Royal Stratford East). On television, roles include Bellamy's People, Skins, Doctor Who, Kerching and Grange Hill.

Dawn Walton returns to Sheffield Theatres after previously directing There's Only One Wayne Matthews last year. Her credits for Eclipse Theatre include The Hounding of David Oluwale and Michael X. Dawn Walton began her directing career at The Royal Court Theatre, going on to be awarded the first Jerwood Young Director's Award at the Young Vic. After a year as Acting Head of Studio at The National Theatre, Dawn was appointed the Artistic Director of Eclipse Theatre in 2008.

Designs are by Libby Watson, with lighting by Natasha Chivers and sound designed by Emma Laxton.

Tickets for the production at Sheffield Theatres and are available from the Box Office on 0114 249 6000 or at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk, priced between £10.00 and £18.00.

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