Theatre Royal Stratford East and Actors Touring Company today announce lead cast and creatives for the UK premiere of Tambo & Bones by award-winning US playwright Dave Harris.
Actors Touring Company (ATC) Artistic Director Matthew Xia directs Rhashan Stone (Tambo) and Daniel Ward (Bones) in this play about a comedy double-act, turned hip-hop superstars, who find themselves stuck in a minstrel show. The production runs at Stratford East from 22 June – 15 July.
Commenting on this co-production, Director Matthew Xia says: “I spent my formative years at Stratford East, its philosophy is in my DNA. I started in the Youth Theatre in 1993 and by the time I left in 2010, I was the Associate Director. Stratford East is where I first combined my love of theatre with my passion for hip-hop, making shows with ULTZ like DA BOYZ and Jean Genet’s THE BLACKS (REMIXED). It feels very full circle to return with ATC, the company I now lead, and this playful and provocative hip-hop infused satire as part of our Transformation Season”.
Tambo and Bones are stuck in a minstrel show. It’s hard to know what’s real when you’re stuck in a minstrel show. Their escape plan: get out, get rich, get even. Join Tambo (Rhashan Stone) and Bones (Daniel Ward) on their journey from comedy double-act, to hip-hop superstars, to activists in an America at the epicentre of the global Black Lives Matter movement.
TAMBO & BONES laughs through our past, blows the roof off our present and imagines an explosive future for our world… and for theatre.
‘A racially charged metatheatrical satire and “rags-to-riches hip-hop odyssey” by slam poet turned playwright Dave Harris.’ (Time Out New York, 30 best Off Broadway shows to see in Spring 2022)
As part of the run of TAMBO & BONES, Stratford East is hosting its first ever BLACK OUT performance on Wednesday 5 July at 7.30pm.
While this performance has been arranged for Black audience members specifically, no one is excluded from attending.
Director Matthew Xia said: “Over the last few years, a number of playwrights and directors in the US and the UK have created private and safe spaces for Black theatregoers to experience productions that explore complex, nuanced race-related issues. I felt that with a play like TAMBO & BONES which unpicks the complexity of Black performance in relation to the white gaze it was imperative that we created such a space.”
The creative team are:
Written by Dave Harris
Directed by Matthew Xia
Designed by Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey & ULTZ
Lighting Design by Ciarán Cunningham
Hip-Hop Songs Composed by Excalibah
Sound Design & Additional Composition by Richard Hammarton
Movement Direction by Kloé Dean
Video Design by Gino Ricardo Green
Casting Direction by Julia Horan
Assistant Direction by Danielle Kassarate
Fight Direction by Kevin McCurdy
Costume Supervision by Ysanne Tidd
Dramatherapist Wabriya King
Stage Manager Marie-Angelique St. Hill
Deputy Stage Manager Phyllys Egharevba
Assistant Stage Manager Anna Townley
Tickets now on sale. For more information visit www.stratfordeast.com.
