Casting has been announced for the world premiere of AGATHE, the remarkable true story from critically acclaimed playwright, Angela J. Davis, of Agathe Uwilingiyimana, who was Rwanda’s head of state for less than a day before her assassination in 1994 at the start of the genocide against Tutsi people in Rwanda. The show opens at the Playground Theatre next month to mark the 30th year after the events.
Natasha Bain will play Agathe Uwilingiyimana. She has previously performed in the National Theatre’s The Royal Hunt of The Sun, Richard II in the House of Commons and Arcola Theatre and Merry Wives of Windsor and Twelfth Night at Regent‘s Park Open Air Theatre. Her film and television appearances include the BAFTA winning Zinky Boys Go Underground and BBC’s Doctors and Casualty.Â
She will be joined by Matthew Faucher who has previously appeared in ITV’s Breaking the Band – Prince and the Revolution and BBC film Dirty God which screened at Sundance Film Festival and Rio Attoh-Wood who has featured as a programme announcer for ITV and a voice of Virgin Atlantic, Capital Xtra and Capital Dance Radio. Completing the cast is Jordon Kemp who appears in the audio drama series Seeds on Spotify produced by No Stone Theatre and Sohaya Visions’ previous productions Rivers With Diamonds and Allah’s Own Country and Maria Austin who has previously performed in The Sisterhood at Leicester Square Theatre and will feature in Kaleidoscope Film’s Tell That to the Winter Sea released later this year.
AGATHE tells the true story of the extraordinary woman who became Rwanda’s head of state for fourteen hours. Created through extensive research including first-hand accounts from witnesses and survivors of the genocide, Angela J. Davis’s new play explores the life of a Chemistry professor and advocate for women and girls’ education, Agathe Uwilingiyimana. When a plane crashes and takes the life of African president, Juvénal Habyarimana, it ignites a killing spree that the world will later recognize as the 1994 genocide against Tutsi people in Rwanda. Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, the first and so far only woman to hold the role, becomes the next in line for the country’s presidency but just 14 hours later Agathe is assassinated. Angela J. Davis’s play brings Agathe’s silenced story to light as a beacon for our times and an overlooked woman in history.
AGATHE will run at The Playground Theatre from 17th April – 4th May 2024. Tickets are available here.
