A fictional depiction of Martin Luther King’s last night on Earth from theatre company Fio is to tour Wales in October.
The play, The Mountain Top, first appeared at The Other Room in Cardiff in October 2016.
Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop, which won an Olivier Award for Best New Drama, is based in a motel room in Memphis with King being visited by Camae, a maid on a much greater mission than delivering his coffee.
The playwright deals with issues of leadership, legacy and mortality. The play explores themes of poverty, racism and the way to deal with impending death. Katori examines the world then and the world now. Asking the audience: How much has really changed?
The tour takes place during Black History Month across Wales and will have black cast.
Mensah Bediako will re-join the company to play the part of Martin Luther King, while Rebecca Carrie joins the company as Camae, the maid. The show is directed by Fio Artistic Director, Abdul Shayek, with Design by Stacey-Jo Atkinson, Sound Design by Dan Lawrence, Lighting Design by Ciarán Cunningham and Video Design by Joe Fletcher.
During the event at the Senedd on the 2nd of October, Fio will be launching The Mountaintop Wales tour with performances, speeches and discussions. Fio will be bringing businesses, organisations and schools together to discuss issues about race in Wales, as well as offering an opportunity for students from associated schools to perform.
The Mountaintop Director, Abdul Shayek said, “The Mountaintop spoke to me in way no other play had for some time now. It provoked a number of emotions within me, from amusement to anger and frustration. I’d like to achieve that with our audiences and start a wider conversation around race, prejudice and importantly the need for us to embrace each other’s differences.”
Fio is a Cardiff based theatre company working across the UK and internationally, bringing world-class sociopolitical stories to local audiences. Everyone has a story to tell, and each individual is as important as the next. Together, Fio makes theatre that celebrates individuality, tearing down stereotypes and offering everybody a chance to make their mark in the world.
Tour dates
3 October – Powys Dance, Llandrindod Wells
dancepowysdawns.org / 01597 824 370
7 October – Span Arts, Narberth
span-arts.org.uk / 01834 869323
10 – 13 October – Blackwood Miner’s Institute
your.caerphilly.gov.uk/bmi / 01495 227206
18 & 19 October – Newport Riverfront
newportlive.co.uk/riverfront / 01633 656757
24 October – Pontio
pontio.co.uk / 01248 38 28 28
26 & 27 October – Ffwrnes, Llanelli
theatrausirgar.co.uk / 0845 226 3510
Tickets: £12 / £10
Further information: www.wearefio.co.uk
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