Arcola Theatre and The Elufowoju jr Ensemble have announced the full cast and creative team for the world premiere of 54.60 Africa, conceived and directed by Femi Elufowoju jr.
The production runs at Arcola Theatre from 14 June to 12 July 2025, with a press performance scheduled for Thursday 19 June at 19:30.
54.60 Africa is a vibrant new play that blends live music, song, and dance to tell the story of 11 characters journeying across the African continent. The play is inspired by Elufowoju jr’s personal travels to all 54 African nations before his 60th birthday.
Joining the previously announced cast—Suzette Llewellyn (The Fellowship), Munashe Chirisa (The Play That Goes Wrong), and Patrice Naiambana (Tree)—are Ayo-Dele Edwards, Usifu Jalloh, Liana Cottrill, Adil Hassan, Christopher Mbaki, Funlola Olufunwa, Daniel Sewagudde, and Denis Mugagga of The Ganda Boys.
The creative team includes designer ULTZ, lighting designer Charles Balfour, associate director and movement director Kemi Durosinmi, and music director/composer/sound designer Emmanuel Edwards.
The play follows 11 adventurous friends who are given seven days by their ancestral ‘mother’ to prove that Africa is a continent worth celebrating. Their journey spans 54 countries, reshaping lives, histories, and destinies.
Femi Elufowoju jr said:
“I am overjoyed for 54.60 Africa to come to Arcola Theatre’s stage and audiences, the next step in a journey that has taken me to the heart of 54 nations, across seven years (despite a paralysing global pandemic!). I set off in search of belonging and identity but found so much more. Africa, not I, became the central character.
“It is thrilling to bring together such an incredible ensemble on stage – reuniting some of my recent The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives family, joined by multi-talented actors, and the joyous energy of The Ganda Boys.”
Elufowoju jr’s previous work at Arcola Theatre includes The Glass Menagerie, Richard III, Hoard by Bim Adewunmi, and The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, which received critical acclaim.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
