UK Stage Debut

Swapping the dystopian nightmare of The Handmaid's tale for 1930s Harlem, the luminous Samira Wiley makes her UK stage debut in this exciting new revival of Pearl Cleage's 1995 play. Directed by Lynette Linton, Wiley stars as out-of-work dancer Angel opposite Giles Terera (Hamilton), Ronke Adekolujeo (Three Sisters), Osy Ikhile (Sweat), and Sule Rimi (Barber Shop Chronicles).

A 2010 Julliard graduate, Samira Wiley first came to mainstream attention in her breakout role as Poussey Washington in the hit Netflix series, Orange Is The New Black in 2013. In 2017 she joined The Handmaid's Tale as Moira, since winning an Emmy for performance. She has had roles on stage in the US in Love's Labour's Lost and Daphne's Dive. 

What is the story?

1930, Harlem. The cultural renaissance that saw a burst of creativity in the predominantly African American neighborhood has begun to wain in the face of the Great Depression. Feeling the squeeze are four friends including Angel, a dancer who dreams of escape. But when a stranger from Alabama comes to town, the quartet is faced with life-changing consequences. Will they break free? Or cling to the safety of belonging?