From double Olivier Award-nominated JFR Productions (Eat The Rich (but maybe not me mates x);For Black Boys Who Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy;Blue Mist), the casting forA to Bhas been announced ahead of its world premiere at Soho Theatre this summer.
Written by up-and-coming British playwright Tia-Renee Mullings (Duppies, Royal Court Open Submissions Festival;Little Angela; shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award), this coming-of-age comedy set to a Caribbean South London soundtrack explores the humour and unpredictability of young love, tracing moments of connection in a world that rarely goes to plan.
Amani and Brianna are getting ready for a blind date, but getting there is the real test. Between teefing sisters, gentrified patties, flying bird poo, missing barbers and a trim that could end a man, romance might not be the only thing on the line.A to Bcentres on the beauty and absurdity of trying to be seen in a world that won’t stop interrupting.
The two-hander will see rising stars Sheyi Cole (Small Axe, BBC;Lord of the Flies, Chichester Festival Theatre; Boxing Day, BFI Films/Warner Bros) and Zakiyyah Deen (Enterprice, BBC;Small Axe, BBC;Why A Black Woman Will Never Be Prime Minister, Camden People’s Theatre) take to the stage. It’s about showing up, for love, family and yourself, even when you’re late, lost or covered in mud. Directed by Ewa Dina (The Welsh Dragon, Theatr Iolo;The Kola Nut Does Not Speak English, Bush Theatre) winner of the JMK award 2026,A to Bis a romcom where nothing goes to plan, but everything still matters.
Artistic Director and CEO of HighTide, Titilola Dawudu comments,We’re proud to be supporting Tia-Renee and her debut playA to B. From the moment I watched the sharing, I knew her voice and storytelling were something I wanted to get behind. New writing is central to HighTide’s work, and partnering with JFR Productions and Soho Theatre means we can reach more writers and support more exciting voices.
A to B’splaywright, Tia-Renee Mullings comments,I wrote A to B out of a desire for more Black British love stories and my love for spoken word. The play is about two people trying to find love and each other in a world that keeps getting in the way, but it’s also my love letter to South London and to the textures of British-Jamaican life and community that coloured my upbringing. In today’s social media-dominated (dating) landscape, where so much of how we’re seen is curated and controlled, the play is really a poetic exploration of what it means to be seen and loved as a young Black person.
Director of JFR Productions, Jasmyn Fisher-Ryner comments, It’s a privilege to be producing Tia Renee’s debut play A To B! I remember watching it in Edinburgh 2026 as part of the Shedinburgh plays chosen by Francesca Moody Productions and being in awe of the writing. The play is so poetic and beautifully captures black British Caribbean culture. Tia-Renee is so authentic and unapologetic in her writing, I can’t wait to see her career continue to blossom. I’ll also forgive the play being set in South London, as a fellow East Londoner.
Main Image: Credit Courtney Nathan Philips
This post was last modified on May 1, 2026 6:33 pm