My Father’s Fable

Adam Jefferys (he/him) is a Lighting Designer and Production Manager from Essex. Previously, he was the Technical Manager of the New Diorama Theatre.

Recent work includes: Foreverland (Southwark Playhouse); Playfight (Summerhall Festival); I Love You, Now What? (Park); The End, Communion, My Father’s Fable, Elephant (all Bush); The Bleeding Tree, Under The Kundè Tree (both Southwark); The Great Privation (Theatre503); The Olive Boy (UK Tour); Murder In The Dark (UK Tour); It Is I, Seagull (UK Tour); Soon, Pilot (both Summerhall); Philosophy of The World (Cambridge Junction); After The Act, War & Culture (both New Diorama); Project Dictator (New Diorama & Edinburgh); Jekyll and Hyde (Derby); Everything Has Changed (Tour & Edinburgh); Dorian (Reading Rep).

For more of Adam’s work please visit his website: adamjefferys.com

Africa Blagrove is an Assistant Stage Manager.

She started her Stage Management journey towards her last year of college when she applied for a stage management work placement with Get Up! Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical.

Early last year, Africa joined the RADA Youth company on the technical theatre pathway where she gained skills in all technical aspects and was the Stage Manager/Head of Props for Alice in Wonderland which was put on at RADA with the Young Company Acting pathway.

Her ASM credits include: Samuel Take a Break … (The Yard Theatre), #Blackis… (New Diorama theatre) and Get Up! Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical (Lyric Theatre)

Ayanna Witter-Johnson is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, pianist and cellist. She has a phenomenal mastery for seamlessly crossing the boundaries of classical, jazz, reggae, soul and R&B, to imprint her unique musical signature with her virtuosic tap, strum and bow with her cello into her sound and vibe.

An acclaimed and celebrated performer, Ayanna has collaborated with many stellar artists, including Anoushka Shankar, Nitin Sawhney, Andrea Bocelli and Jools Holland. She has also toured extensively across the UK, Europe and the US.

After graduating with a first-class degree from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and the Manhattan School of Music, Ayanna participated in the London Symphony Orchestra’s Panufnik Young Composers Scheme. Soon after, as Emerging Artist in Residence at London’s Southbank Centre, Ayanna performed as a featured artist with Courtney Pine’s Afropeans: Jazz Warriors. Later, whilst studying in the USA at New York’s Manhattan School of Music, she became the only non-American to win ‘Amateur Night Live at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NYC.

As a composer, Ayanna has been commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Güerzenich Orchester, Ligeti Quartet, Kronos Quartet and The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company to name but a few. She was also selected as an arranger/orchestrator for the London Symphony Orchestra (Hugh Masekela, Belief) and the BBC Symphony Orchestra (Urban Classic).

Ayanna has released three EPs (‘Truthfully’, ‘Black Panther’ & ‘Ella, Reuben & Ay’) and put out her debut album ‘Road Runner’ in 2019, with its two subsequent singles’ Nothing Less’ and ‘Crossroads’, via her own independent record label (Hill and Gully Records). Ayanna has worked with producers Marc Mac (4Hero), James Yarde (Terri Walker, Jamelia, Eric Benet) and recorded with featured artists, including pianist Robert Mitchell and rapper Akala.

With her January 2021 surprise-released EP ‘Rise Up, Ayanna again combined reggae, classical, jazz and R&B to celebrate black culture and identity to uplift and inspire the next generation. The stunning collection of three tracks and videos featuring Akala on ‘Rise Up’, Cleveland Watkiss on ‘Declaration Of Rights’ and the ‘Rise Up Riddim’ have received a huge amount of critical acclaim.

Her TV credits include BBC One, London Live, Channel 4 (Sing It Loud: Black and Proud), BBC Proms and a stunning performance on Later…with Jools Holland (BBC One).

David Thackeray trained as an actor for five years, graduating from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with a degree in BA Acting – Collaborative Devised Theatre, which was a creative partnership with international touring theatre company Complicite.

Following his graduation, David transitioned into directing for stage. One of his productions garnered enough acclaim to be transferred to London’s West End. Subsequently, he expanded his repertoire to include film and television, and he served as a Director and Producer for an episode of Amazon Prime’s Silent Eye.

In 2017, David ventured into Intimacy Coordination, a field still in its infancy in the UK at the time. He became one of the first Intimacy Coordinators in the UK, integrating his expertise into the film and television industry following extensive workshops and training. David also frequently works with drama schools to impart his knowledge of intimacy guidelines to acting students and core staff, equipping them with best practices for their careers. Since then, he has contributed to an array of productions across various platforms, including Netflix, Disney, HBO, BBC, and Sky.

Esi Acquaah-Harrison trained at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, UK where she achieved a MA in Voice Studies.

Theatre work as a voice and dialect coach includes: The House of Shades, featuring Anne-Marie Duff (Almeida); Morinho (Theatre503); Days of Significance, THIRTEEN (both Arts Ed); The High Table (Bush); Benedict Lombe’s award-winning Lava (Bush); Punk Rock (Stratford East); Start (Mountview); Desert Boy, Love and Money (both LAMDA); Pigeon English (Bristol School of Acting); Stop Kiss (RADA); The Importance of being Ernest (English Touring Theatre); Nine Night (Leeds Playhouse); All Roads, Beneatha’s Place (both Young Vic); Samuel Takes a Break (Yard); No More Mr Nice Guy (Broadway, Catford). On television: Sex Education Series 3 (Netflix).

Esi’s stage experience as a singer-performer includes an exciting ten-year world tour with the world famous Cirque du Soleil show, Totem, in which she was the lead female singer and original cast member. This was preceded by two-years as Rafiki in Disney’s The Legend of the Lion King at Disneyland Resort, Paris. Other singing and stage experiences include work with Luther Vandross, classical singer Jessye Norman, Michael Ball, Mariah Carey and Sir Tom Jones among many others. She is a former member of UK’s London Community Gospel Choir. She sings as Diva Aretha Franklin in the UK Ultimate Divas tribute ensemble to Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner. She made her West End debut as a singer in Derren Brown’s top selling West End show SHOWMAN, and more recently appeared at the Borlase Theatre in Marlow.

Faith Omole recently won the prestigious Alfred Fagon Award, the leading theatre prize for Black playwrights, for her play Kaleidoscope. Currently, Faith is a story producer and writer on a new TV series for Angel Studios. She is also an Olivier nominated actor best known for the critically acclaimed Channel 4/Peacock comedy We Are Lady Parts, the hit stage show Standing at the Sky’s Edge, and most recently Yael Farber’s critically acclaimed production of King Lear at the Almeida.

Katie Greenall (she/they) is a director, theatre maker & writer. Since graduating with a degree in Acting and Community Theatre from East 15, she has been delivering projects and making work with Young People and Communities all over London and internationally. She was worked with organisations such as the Donmar Warehouse, NYT of GB and the National Theatre. Katie is the Young Company Director at the Bush Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East. Previously she has directed Back Up!, ANTHEM & Pass It On at the Bush Theatre. In 2023, As We Face The Sun– which she co-directed with Bush Theatre Artistic Director Lynette Linton- was nominated for an Offie.

Katie also makes autobiographical work, that often explores fatness, queerness and community. They are the writer & performer of award winning autobiographical solo show FATTY FAT FAT and this summer will be at Edinburgh Fringe Festival performing their show BLUBBER at Summerhall.

Lucy Ventham originally studied Drama and Literature at the University of Essex before moving into stage management. Now based in London, she primarily works on new writing.

She has worked on a variety of productions, including West End, UK wide touring, outdoor promenade and immersive sensory theatre. Most recent credits include: Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 3 (Park); Wow! Said the Owl (Little Angel / UK Tour); Pied Piper (Battersea Arts Centre Beatbox Academy); On the Beach (Spare Tyre). Theatre credits for Bush Theatre include: Sleepova.

Malena Arcucci is a theatre designer and costume supervisor based in London. She is co-artistic director of Mariana Malena Theatre Company.

Design credits include: Strangers Like Me (NT Connect and Hackney Shed); The Bit Players (Southwark); Friday Night Love Poem (Zoo Venues Edinburgh); Point of No Return (Actor’s Centre); La Llorona (Dance City Newcastle); The Two of Us (Theatre Deli); Playing Latinx (Camden’s People’s Theatre) and various productions in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Associate Designer credits include: Dear Elizabeth (Gate); Chiaroscuro (Bush); Thebes Land and Tamburlaine (Arcola).

Costume Supervisor credits include: Samuel Takes a Break (The Yard Theatre) Shifter’s and August in England (Bush Theatre) Sucker Punch (Queen’s Theatre); Bootycandy (Gate); Super High Resolution (Soho); The Boys are Kissing (Theatre503); Blues for an Alabama Sky (as Assistant, National); The Cherry Orchard (Yard / HOME); Chasing Hares (Young Vic); House of Ife (Bush); Lotus Beauty (Hampstead); Moreno and Milk and Gall (Theatre503); Raya (Hampstead).

Olissa Rogers is a Casting Director working on a freelance basis. She began working in the industry back in Germany in 2008. She worked there until 2016 mainly on TV Series. In 2016 she met casting director, Jeremy Zimmermann, and went to be casting assistant for him on several films until 2018. She then moved on to become casting assistant to Kharmel Cochrane for commercials and TV/Film projects. In March 2019 Olissa was approached by Theo Park and was working on big TV projects as her associate until October 2019, on projects including Ted Lasso. From November 2019 until February 2020 Olissa was one of the casting associates to Amy Hubbard. Olissa has also worked for Fiona Weir as one of her associates from June 2020 – April 2022

Rachael Nanyonjo is a movement director and choreographer. Rachael’s training includes BA Honours in Dance Studies (Roehampton University) and MA in Choreography (Middlesex University).

Choreography & Movement Direction credits include: Misty (West End / New York); The P Word (Olivier Award), Babylon Beyond Borders (both Bush); The Tempest (Globe); The White Card (Northern Stage & UK tour); Purple Snowflakes & Titty Wanks (Abbey / Royal Court); Trouble In Mind (National); Love Reign, Changing Destiny, In A Word, American Dream (all Young Vic); The Death of a Black Man (Hampstead); Pigeon English (Bristol School of Acting); Cinderella (Nottingham Playhouse); Cbeebies (BBC); Spine (UK Tour); Great Expectations, After It Rains (National Youth Theatre): Either (Hampstead); Two Trains Running (ETT / Royal and Derngate); Does My Bomb Look Big In This (Soho / Tara Arts); Macbeth (Orange Tree); The Jumper Factory (Young Vic / Bristol Old Vic); Sleeping Beauty (Stratford East, nominated for the Black British Theatre Best Choreographer Award); Shebeen (Nottingham Playhouse & Stratford East); Bernstein’s Mass (Royal Festival Hall); Twilight (Gate); The Divide and Cover My Tracks (both Old Vic).

Directing credits include: Recognition (Talawa); Next Please! (Almeida); Recognition (audio play with 45North Ltd / Ellie Keel Productions); Bobsleigh (Old Vic Monologues); Amazina (Film); An Alternative Musical (National, for NT Learning as co-director); Assata – She Who Struggles (Young Vic, for Young Vic fresh direction); 2:1 (Kanzaze Dance Theatre at Rich Mix). As associate director: Disney’s Newsies (Troubador); Moonlight, Night School (Harold Pinter / Jamie Lloyd Company).

Choreographer screen credits include: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (ACE Entertainment); CBEEBIES: Christmas in Storyland (BBC); and Pirates (Hillbilly Films/BBC/BFI).

Rebekah Murrell is an actor and director. She directed the premiere of Yasmin Joseph’s award-winning Notting Hill Carnival play J’ouvert at Theatre503 in 2019, and its 2021 West End transfer, produced by Sonia Friedman Productions.

Other work includes Yasmin Joseph’s First Winter (The Place), a play inspired and performed by retired Caribbean nurses in Bedford whose work laid the foundations of the NHS, and Knock Down Brixton (Brixton House), a site-specific journey through five Brixton writers’ stories of their town.

In 2023, Rebekah was selected for the inaugural cohort of Aluna Labs, a development programme for women stage directors working on screen. She is a BAFTA Connect member, and was one of the Evening Standard’s Ones To Watch 2022. She received an Ian Charleson Commendation for her Juliet at the Globe, and was nominated for Best Creative West End Debut (Stage Debut Awards) and Best Production (Visionary Honours Awards) for her work on J’ouvert.

Simisola Majekodunmi trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) with a degree in Lighting Design.

Theatre credits include: The Ballad of Hattie and James (Kiln); A Taste of Honey, Electric Rosary (Royal Exchange); Metamorphosis (Frantic Assembly, UK Tour); I, Daniel Blake (Northern Stage & UK Tour); Choir Boy (Bristol Old Vic); Es & Flo (Wales Millennium Centre); Sound of the Underground, Is God Is, Living Newspaper (Royal Court); Family Tree (Belgrade Theatre & UK Tour); Treason: The Musical in Concert (Theatre Royal Dury Lane); J’OUVERT (Theatre503/West End); Starcrossed (Wilton’s Music Hall); A Christmas Carol (Shakespeare North Playhouse); Nine Night (Leeds Playhouse); Human Nurture (Sheffield); The Wiz (Hope Mill Theatre).

Dance credit includes: Dark with Excessive Bright (Royal Opera House); Traplord (180 Studios); The UK Drill Project (Barbican); Born to Exist (Netherlands and UK Tour); AZARA – Just Another Day & Night (The Place); Puck’s Shadow (Watford Palace).

Taiwo Ava Oyebola is an interdisciplinary artist working across theatre, literature and arts and heritage based in London. Interrogating the world through their lived experiences centring the voices of historically overlooked communities is the thread that runs throughout their creative practice. Working intuitively, they use the poetic potential of language to explore afro-futurity, intimacy and care. Their writing has been performed at the Almeida Theatre, Theatre 503 and with Talawa Theatre Company. Directing credits include 1961 and The Sexiest Woman in the World (North Wall); Talking Stages (Pleasance). Assistant directing credits: Samuel Takes A Break… (Yard); here, here, here (Stratford East) and Man is Di Feast (Camden People’s Theatre).

Titilola Dawudu is the Associate Dramaturg at the Bush Theatre, heading up the Literary department. She works with the Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director to commission and nurture news plays and ideas, working closely with writers, managing writing groups and the talent development pipeline.

Titilola was the dramaturg for an early iteration at Ovalhouse of Tyrell Williams’s award-winning play Red Pitch. She dramaturgically supported some of the RSC’s 37 Plays winners, most notably Dreaming and Drowning by Kwame Owusu.

Titilola co-created and edited Hear Me Now Audition Monologues for Actors of Colour with Tamasha, published by Oberon Books. Hear Me Now Volume Two was published in August 2022 by Methuen Drama. As a writer, Titilola has written for Theatre Royal Arojah in Abuja, Nigeria, Theatre Peckham, Ovalhouse, Beyond Face and Soho Theatre.

TK Hay is a theatre designer based in the UK.

Recent credits include: Little Shop of Horrors (Octagon Bolton / Theatre by the Lake / Hull Truck / New Wolsey); Talawa Firsts on Tour (Talawa); Brenda’s Got a Baby (Nouveau Riche); Mayflies (York Theatre Royal); Beginning (Royal Exchange); Constellations (Stephen Joseph); The Making of a Monster (Millennium Centre); The Apology (New Earth).

He was Best Designer at The Stage Debut Awards in 2022 and won the Linbury Prize in 2019. More can be found on his website: tkhay.design

Wabriya King is the Associate Dramatherapist at the Bush Theatre. Wabriya’s practice is to create a space and a format to hold people safely while they navigate their experiences in relation to the theatre’s work. Wabriya has previously worked on productions at Soho Theatre, Theatre Roayl Stratford East, Hampstead Theatre, Royal Court, National Theatre and Paines Plough.

Credits for the Bush include: Shifter’s, Paradise Now!; The P Word; House of Ife; Red Pitch; Overflow; Lava; The High Table.

XANA is a freestyle live loop musician, composer, spatial sound artist, music supervisor and a haptic specialist sound designer developing accessible audio systems for live art spaces. XANA is the music science and technology lead and project mentor supporting artists and inventors at audio research label Inventing Waves.

Recent credits include: Dead Girls Rising (Silent Uproar, UK Tour); Shifters (also West End), Elephant, Sleepova (Olivier Award), The P Word (Olivier Award), Strange Fruit (all Bush); The Architect (ATC/GDIF); Beautiful Thing (Stratford East); Imposter 22, Word:Play, Living Newspaper #4 (Royal Court); Anna Karenina (Edinburgh Lyceum / Bristol Old Vic); The Trials, Marys Seacole (Donmar); Earthworks, Sundown Kiki: Reloaded, The Collaboration, Sundown Kiki, Changing Destiny, Fairview, Ivan and the Dogs (Young Vic); …cake (Theatre Peckham); Who Killed My Father (Tron); as british as a watermelon (Contact); Hyde and Seek (Guildhall); Burgerz (Hackney Showroom); King Troll [The Fawn] (New Diorama); Everyday (Deafinitely); Black Holes (The Place); Hive City Legacy (Roundhouse); Glamrou: From Quran to Queen, Curious, Half-Breed (all Soho); Blood Knot, Guards at the Taj (Orange Tree); Main Character Energy, Samuel Takes a Break…, SEX SEX MEN MEN (all Yard); Everything I Own, Is Dat Yu Yeah (Briton House).

XANA is the recipient of the 2023 Best Sound Design award from the Black British Theatre Awards (BBTA).