The production will run at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from the 18th March until the 25th April.
Casting has now been confirmed for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, which reunites the creative team behind School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, which was staged at the Lyric in 2023.
Written by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Monique Touko, the play premiered on Broadway during Manhattan Theatre Club’s 2023–2024 season, where it received two Tony Awards.
Welcome to Jaja’s! This bustling Harlem braiding salon is where neighbourhood women come to have their greatest hairstyle dreams come true, all in the hands of a lively group of West African, immigrant braiders.
Across one hot summers day, these women experience everything in the pressure cooker of the sweltering shop: from demanding customers to secrets and lies, laughter and betrayal. But each of these women has big dreams as well, dreams which increasingly pit them against the city they call home.
The cast for the UK premiere is set to include: Bola Akeju as Ndidi, Renee Bailey as Vanessa, Sheila and Radia, babirye bukilwa as Aminata, Zainab Jah as Jaja, Demmy Ladipo as James, Franklin, Olu and Eric, Dani Moseley as Michelle, Chrissy and Laniece, Sewa Zamba in their professional stage debut as Marie, Jadesola Odunjo as Miriam, Dolapo Oni as Bea and Karene Peter as Jennifer.
The production is a co-production between Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Madison Wells Live and Chase This Productions, with Joshua Berg Creative also co-producing.
Meanwhile, the creative team behind the production also includes: set design by Paul Wills, wigs, hair and make-up design by Cynthia De La Rosa, costume design by Jessica Cabassa, lighting design by Simisola Majekodunmi, sound design by Tony Gayle, video design by Dick Straker and movement direction by Kloé Dean. Casting is by Julia Horan, with Xanthus as associate director and Gràinne Flynn as assistant director.
To book tickets visit: https://lyric.co.uk/shows/jajas-african-hair-braiding/