Award-winning Durham-based Elysium Theatre Company has announced the London premiere of its critically acclaimed production of The Moth, which will run at the Finborough Theatre from 27 October to 21 November 2026.
Written by South African-born playwright Paul Herzberg and directed by Jake Murray, the production stars Faz Singhateh as John Josana and Micky Cochrane as Marius Muller, with Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh providing the voice of Joy Josana.
The London season follows a highly successful and critically acclaimed tour of the North East and North West in 2025. Originally created as a ten-minute online monologue during the Covid pandemic, The Moth went on to attract more than 6,000 views and was screened at film festivals across the world, including in Brazil, India, South Korea, New York, South Africa and throughout Europe.
Herzberg subsequently expanded the piece into a full-length stage play over a five-year period. Produced by Elysium Theatre Company and rehearsed in Stanley with a largely North East cast and creative team, the production earned widespread acclaim during its debut tour, with Micky Cochrane receiving a North East Culture Award for his performance.
Set across three decades, The Moth follows a chance encounter between two men on a train in the 1990s. John Josana is a Black British activist and political commentator, while Marius Muller is a former South African special forces soldier grappling with PTSD following the Angolan War under the Apartheid regime. Their confrontation changes the course of both their lives before they reunite years later in front of a national television audience to tell their competing versions of events.
Described as a gripping political thriller, the play explores war, race, PTSD, the legacy of Apartheid, redemption, forgiveness and the enduring weight of history.
Director Jake Murray said: “THE MOTH is a story of North East success. It was a huge hit when it toured up here with an incredible response from our audiences. We are proud to be bringing it to London to put it in front of a new audience. In doing so we are flying the flag for North East theatre and the incredible talent up here.”
The production will also feature a series of post-show Q&A events on 5, 12 and 19 November, with special guests including Vincent Ibrahim and Lord Peter Hain.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
