Cardiff based theatre company Fio’s presentation of The Mountaintop, a fictional depiction of Dr Martin Luther King’s last evening before his assassination in April 1968 will tour South Wales throughout October.
The story, set in Dr 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?
Directed by Fio Artistic Director, Abdul Shayek, with Design by Stacey-Jo Atkinson the production will star Mensah Bediako as Dr Martin Luther King, while Rebecca Carrie will play Camae, the maid.
The tour launched at the Welsh Assembly Senedd on October 2 in an event commemorating Black History month. Andy Howells recently put questions to actress Rebecca Carrie about the production.
Rebecca Carrie and Mensah Bediako in rehearsals for Theatre Fio’s The Mountaintop, which tours South Wales during October. Photo: Kieran Cudlip
How did you get into acting?
Like many actors I had a great Drama teacher in secondary school. Telling stories, for me, is the best way to learn and there’s definitley no better way to make a living.
Can you tell us a bit about your role in The Mountaintop?
Camae is fiery and quick witted with a lot to say. She’s also beautiful, and she knows it.
Martin Luther King is probably one of the best known public figures of the 20th century, how would you say he is depicted in The Mountaintop?
During “The Mountaintop” Martin Luther King is shown as being a human being, flaws and all and when you think of him in that way, rather than some mythical creature, it makes all that he and his movement accomplished even more astounding.
Rebecca Carrie and Mensah Bediako in rehearsals for Theatre Fio’s The Mountaintop, which tours South Wales during October. Photo: Kieran Cudlip
How relevant do you think his legacy is to people today?
Martin Luther King will always be relevant; he helped shape the world and I’m sure that African Americans and the people within movements such as Black Lives Matter find his work and legacy very relevant.
What do you think audiences will get from this particular presentation?
The one thing I would love audiences to take from our production of The Mountaintop is that we’re all capable of miraculous things, if we just decide to do them.
The production is touring several Wales venues are you looking forward to that?
I’m very excited at this chance to see Wales particularly the beautiful Welsh countryside!
Do you have a dream role that you’d like to perform?
I would absolutely love to have a crack at playing Cleopatra – maybe in a decade or two
The Mountaintop tour dates
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October 3 – Powys Dance, Llandrindod Wellsdancepowysdawns.org / 01597 824 370
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October 5 – Halliwell, University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s, Carmarthen campus
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October 7 – Span Arts, Narberth span-arts.org.uk / 01834 869323
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October 10 – 13 – Blackwood Miner’s Institute your.caerphilly.gov.uk/bmi / 01495 227206
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October 18 & 19 – Newport Riverfront newportlive.co.uk/riverfront / 01633 656757
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October 24 – Pontio pontio.co.uk / 01248 38 28 28
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October 26 & 27 – Ffwrnes, Llanelli theatrausirgar.co.uk / 0845 226 3510
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Further information: http://www.wearefio.co.uk