Cast & Creatives Revealed for Unicorn Theatre’s Anansi the Spider
Returning by popular demand this October in a vibrant co-production with Birmingham Rep, the Unicorn Theatre is delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for Anansi the Spider. Following a sold-out run in 2023, this joyful, bold retelling of West African and Caribbean folk tales weaves together music, movement and storytelling to bring to life the legendary trickster spider whose cleverness and mischief continue to inspire children and adults alike. The show will open at the Unicorn Theatre before touring to Birmingham.
The production will star Cynthia Emeagi (The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s Globe; Fool Me Once, Netflix), Elizabeth Peace (Much Ado About Nothing, UK Tour; The Devil in Me, Supermassive Games), and Becky Sanneh (House of Cleopatra, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024; Thursford Christmas Spectacular) as narrators who bring Anansi’s world to life. Written by Chichester Festival Theatre Artistic Director Justin Audibert (Marvin’s Binocularsand Story Seekers, Unicorn Theatre; Macbethand The Winter’s Tale for young audiences, National Theatre) and directed by Unicorn Associate Director Robin Belfield (Twelfth Night, Princess Essex, Shakespeare’s Globe; The Merchant of Venice, Sapho and Phao, RSC; Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Adventures of Pinocchio, Watermill Theatre).
Continuing the Unicorn’s mission to tell stories that celebrate culture, imagination and the boundless creativity of young minds, Anansi the Spider explores themes of wit, resilience, and the value of storytelling across generations for ages 4 – 8 years. Anansi the Spider spins a web of unforgettable tales, sharing adventures of how Anansi brought wisdom to the world.
The creative team features award-winning designer Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey (Tambo and Bones, Theatre Royal Stratford East; Death of England, National Theatre), movement direction from Asha Jennings-Grant (Till The Stars Come Down, National Theatre; MJ The Musical, Prince Edward Theatre), musical direction and songs by Duramaney Kamara (Clyde’s, Donmar Warehouse; Suckerpunch, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch). Sound design is by Esther Kehinde Ajayi (Yellowman, Orange Tree Theatre; STATEMENTS AFTER AN ARREST UNDER THE IMMORALITY ACT, Orange Tree Theatre), with lighting design by Will Monks (Beegu, Unicorn Theatre; …blackbird hour, UK Tour). Casting is by Saffeya Shebli (Cow | Deer, Royal Court Theatre; Hundred Feet Tall, Old Vic Community Tour).
Main Image: Courtesy of Anansi the Spider
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