Cast & creative team announced for REDEMPTION at The Big House

The cast and creative team have been announced for Redemption, which premieres at The Big House in Islington from 17 November-11 December.

Directed by the venue’s Artistic Director Maggie Norris, this production brings together an incredible team of artists with young care leavers for a show that represents the company’s ethos of making high-quality artistic work with a social impact.

In a time of accusation and outrage, what does forgiveness look like? The path to Redemption is hard to see, and even harder to walk. 

Redemption follows explosive Maz and her truth-telling bars as she rails at the world and runs from a life in care. When she meets Tayo, a gentle soul with silky smooth vocal folds, they take the first steps of their musical career, but can they hold on to each other when promised the bright lights of success?

A powerful new play-with-music, with text and lyrics by James Meteyard and music by internationally acclaimed music producer and composer The Last Skeptik, Redemption explores themes of grief, trauma, family and forgiveness.

Twenty-three-year-old Renaya Dennis will lead the cast in the role of Maz. As a young girl that continuously ran away and who was documented in the press as a ‘14 year old missing teenager’, she was drawn to the character of Maz, having shared a similar story and relating to the theme of rejection.  

Renaya Dennis said: “I really wanted to get involved with The Big House because of its reputation. Since I’ve come here I’ve met a community of people who are the same as me, who have come from similar backgrounds. I'm able to be myself and finally be accepted. I love learning and I’ve already learnt a lot about myself. I’ve now got an outside perspective and can see the negative things that I do. I’m not fully transformed but I’m on the way.”

The full cast for Redemption includes: Alpha Menda, Armani Morris, Fawaz Adekunle, James Atwell, Jayden Atuah-Hemaah, Jermaine Freeman, Keyona Fraser, Nadege Rene, Nia John, Renaya Dennis, Shaq Brown, Shanice Logan, Shaquille Jack, Tajah Workman and Taurean Steele.

The production features design by Linbury Prize winner Zoë Hurwitz, lighting by Martha Godfrey, video by Daniel Denton, sound by Jack Baxter, movement by Kendra Horsburgh, and musical direction by Jammz.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.