Cast Announced for Southwark Playhouse's School Play

antic|face today announces the full casting for the world première of School Play – a new play by Alex MacKeith. Co-Artistic Director of antic|face Charlie Parham directs Oliver Dench (Tom), Fola Evans-Akingbola (Lara), Gemma Fray (Mikaela), Kevin Howarth (David/Tony), Vida King (Mikaela) and Ann Ogbomo (Jo).

School Play marks the company’s third production after their inaugural sell-out show – Hippolytos at the Victoria and Albert Museum and its recently acclaimed production of For Those Who Cry When They Hear The Foxes Scream. School Play opens at Southwark Playhouse on 6 February, with previews from 1 February, and runs until 25 February.

The headteacher’s office of a South London Primary School is always busy. But today is results day and the phone won’t stop ringing. Jo, the headteacher of St. Barnabas, knows that the arrival of the school’s SATs results puts her job on the line. With the future of the school and its pupils at stake, Jo struggles to maintain order as her staff and superiors demand answers. Can she protect her students and herself?

Alex MacKeith’s debut play asks what it means to be a Primary School teacher in contemporary Britain.

Oliver Dench plays Tom. His theatre credits include The Witch Of Edmonton (RSC), Romeo And Juliet (Permanently Bard), Hamlet (Revolve Theatre Company), Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo And Juliet (Reading Between The Lines), A Christmas Carol (Reading Repertory Theatre); and for television, Ride.

Fola Evans-Akingbola plays Lara. School Play marks her professional stage debut. For television her credits include Death In Paradise and Game of Thrones; and for film, An American Exorcism. She will also be starring in the new forthcoming U.S. series The Deep.

Gemma Fray plays Mikaela. Previous theatre credits include The Sound Of Music (Regents’ Park Open Air Theatre) and Made In Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre). Her television credits include The Royals and Outlander; and for film, the forthcoming Disney film Beauty and the Beast.

Kevin Howarth plays David/Tony. His work for theatre includes Polyeucte (Gate theatre), The Beggars Opera (Holland Park Open Air Theatre), Agamemnon (UK, US & Canadian tour), The Merchant of Venice (UK tour), King James’ Ear(Old Red Lion), Danceland (Old Red Lion) and Sunstroke (Latchmere Theatre). For television his credits include Conquerors, The First Olympian, If…, Revealed and Home Alone; and for film, Cash in Hand, The Big Swap, Razor Blade Smile, Don’t Look Back, The Last Horror Movie, Cold and Dark, Summer Scars, The Magnificent Eleven and The Seasoning House.

Vida King plays Mikaela. School Play marks her professional acting debut.

Ann Ogbomo plays Jo. Her theatre credits include Light Shining in Buckinghamshire and The Tempest (National Theatre), Henry IV (Donmar Warehouse), Julius Caesar, Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 & 2, Richard III, Henry VI parts 1, 2 & 3 (RSC), Tamburlaine (Barbican and Bristol Old Vic), The Gods are not to Blame (Arcola and national tour) and Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III (Shakespeare’s Globe). For television her credits include Krypton, Julius Caesar, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bouquet of Barbed Wire, Murder in Mind, Babyfather, Blessed and Something to Make You Sing; and for film, Justice League, Wonder Woman, The Honey Trap, WWZ, and Wild Target. In addition to her acting roles, as a theatre practitioner, Ann has worked for leading arts learning departments as well as in numerous prisons, pupil referral units and schools.

School Play marks Alex MacKeith’s professional theatre debut. During 2016 he has collaborated with the experimental theatre company Embolon, working on performances at Summerhall, Edinburgh and the Battersea Arts Centre. In 2015 he collaborated with C-12 Dance Theatre as scriptwriter for their immersive project, Watson, for an R&D performance at the Albany, supported by the Arts Council. In March he was awarded the theatre scholarship to Columbia University for a Playwriting MFA. As a member of the Cambridge Footlights, he wrote and performed a sell-out sketch show, Dressing Down, at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe (Gilded Balloon). He has also written and performed regularly with his sketch group, Princes of Main, in venues such as The Comedy Store, Backyard Comedy Club, Rich Mix and Camden Comedy Club. He is currently developing a new play, Off The Grid as well as a feature film script. Since leaving university, Alex has worked in a London Primary School, consolidating pupils’ reading, writing and arithmetic in after-school clubs, alongside working as a private tutor. These experiences inspired School Play.