The Gate Theatre has announced the full cast for its world première production of Assata Taught Me, the debut play by Kalungi Ssebandeke which tells the story of an imagined friendship between Assata Shakur, former Black Panther and the FBI’s most wanted woman, and her pupil in Cuba. Associate Director of the Gate Lynette Linton directs Adjoa Andoh as Assata and Kenneth Omole as Fanuco.
Fanuco’s taking English lessons from the only American he knows. The thing is, she’s the FBI’s most wanted woman and he’s a Cuban teenager desperate to live the American Dream. When will he realise his mentor is a former Black Panther, a convicted felon and the bounty on her head has just been upped to two million dollars?
This is Kalungi Ssebandeke’s first full length play. He has previously appeared as an actor at the Gate in Image of an Unknown Young Woman. His short plays include View of Her Own Beauty, My Darling Wife, The Star and Raceless.
Assata Taught Me is at The Gate Theatre 4th – 27th May.
