BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES Announces New Cast Members For International Tour Dates

Following two sell-out runs at the National Theatre in 2017 which saw Barber Shop Chronicles receive widespread critical acclaim, four new cast members have been announced for 2018's international dates in New Zealand and Australia. For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops. Sometimes they have haircuts, sometimes they listen, more often than not they talk. This heart-warming, hilarious and insightful new play, set in Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra and London, explores the role of barber shops as confession boxes, political platforms, preacher-pulpits and football pitches... places to go for unofficial advice, and to keep in touch with the world.

In 2018, original cast members Patrice Naiambana, Peter Bankole, Abdul Salis, Sule Rimi, Kwami Odoom, Maynard Eziashi, David Webber and Cyril Nri will be joined by David Ajao, Bayo Gbadamosi, Martins Imhangbe and Tuwaine Barrett.

David Ajao (Tanaka / Fiifi) has performed in multiple Royal Shakespeare Company productions, including Othello, The Merchant of Venice and Hecuba. In 2017, David joined the regular cast of Holby City in the role of Damon Ford having previously appeared in Eastenders and Sunny D. Taking on the role of Samuel, Bayo Gbadamosi's recent theatre appearances include Gloria at The Hampstead Theatre, I See You at the Royal Court and Little Revolution at the Almeida as well as TV appearances including Doctor Who.

Tuwaine Barrett joins the cast as Tinashe, and other roles, having previously performed at The Young Vic (A Streetcar Named Desire and A Season in the Congo) as well as making appearance in BBC thriller Rellik earlier this year. Martins Imhangbe (Winston / Shoni) completes the new cast having performed at venues including the Arcola, Manchester Royal Exchange, the Bush and worked with companies including Complicite.

The return of Barber Shop Chronicles follows Inua Ellams' Liberty Human Rights Award for An Evening with an Immigrant, his acclaimed hit show. Fuel has produced Inua Ellams' work for theatre since his debut play nine years ago and these dates follow Barber Shop Chronicles' return to the National Theatre after a sell-out first season over the summer. Barber Shop Chronicles features as part of Fuel's 2018 season, a programme of work commissioned to imagine what kind of world might lie ahead. Fuel invites artists to illuminate the past, and reflect on where we are today, to help us imagine a future, considering some of the biggest questions we are faced with today - from gender to migration - both at scale and in intimate settings.

www.fueltheatre.com

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