Statement of Regret, a new play by Kwame Kwei-Armah, opens in the Cottesloe on 14 November, directed by Jeremy Herrin. The full cast is Angel Coulby, Oscar James, Trevor Laird, Colin McFarlane, Chu Omambala, Javone Prince, Clifford Samuel, Ellen Thomas and Don Warrington.
The production is designed by Mike Britton, with lighting by Natasha Chivers and sound by Yvonne Gilbert.
Kwaku Mackenzie, founder of a Black policy think tank, hits the bottle after his father’s death. As media interest in the once dynamic Institute fades, his team grows fractious and then, disastrously, he favours a young Oxford scholar over his own devastated son. When, in a vain attempt to regain influence, he publicly champions divisions within the Black community, the consequences are shattering.
Kwame Kwei-Armah’s third play for the National Theatre takes a punchy, provocative look at the Black British experience and the need, or not, for solidarity. His previous works include Elmina’s Kitchen, which won the 2003 Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright and transferred to the West End, and Fix Up.
Don Warrington plays Kwaku Mackenzie. His theatre work includes Elmina’s Kitchen (West End), The Mysteries (NT) and The Merchant of Venice (Birmingham Rep). His extensive work for television includes Philip in Rising Damp, The Crouches and Manchild.
Jeremy Herrin’s recent theatre productions include That Face (Royal Court) and Blackbird (South African tour). He is an Associate Director at Live Theatre Newcastle.
STATEMENT OF REGRET is supported by JPMorgan through the JPMorgan Art of Learning Programme (see also under Platforms page 5 and Education page 7 for details of the accompanying education programme, New Views). -- www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
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