Cardiff based theatre company Fio’s presentation of The Mountaintop, a fictional depiction of Martin Luther King’s last evening before his assassination in April 1968 will be presented at Newport Riverfront on October 19.
The story, set in King’s Memphis motel room in Memphis, is visited by Camae, a maid on a much greater mission than delivering his coffee. Gripping, relevant and often humorous, Katori Hall’s drama about leadership, legacy and mortality won an Olivier Award for Best New Drama. 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?
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.
The tour will launch at the Welsh Assembly Senedd on October 2, 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.
Discussing The Mountaintop, Director, Abdul Shayek says, “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.
“This will also be one of the very few times when we have an all-black cast on a stage in Wales, something which is absolutely mind boggling, not because it is being done now, but because it is 2017 and the fact that this hasn’t happened more often makes me frustrated and sad. To tour this production during Black History Month across Wales makes me very proud of the company and hope that audiences across Wales are ready to be a part of the conversation.”
- Theatre Fio will perform The Mountaintop at The Riverfront on October 18 and 19. For ticket details visit newportlive.co.uk/riverfront or call 01633 656757