Full casting announced for UK premiere of THE STORY at National Theatre
Full casting has been announced for the UK premiere of leading American playwright Tracey Scott Wilson’s seminal newsroom thriller, The Story, which plays in the National Theatre’s Olivier theatre from 27 August - 24 October.
Directed by NT Associate Artist, Clint Dyer, this gripping and adrenaline-fuelled examination of racial politics and journalistic ethics will star the previously announced BAFTA Award-winner Letitia Wright (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios) who makes her National Theatre debut as Yvonne, an ambitious black reporter who defies her editor to pursue an incendiary lead, choosing to go to any length to get ‘the story’. She will star alongside Aliyah Odoffin (All My Sons, Wessex Grove/Gavin Kalin Productions/Playful Productions) as Latisha, Ashley Thomas (Hostage, Netlfix) as Neil, Lorraine Toussaint (Orange is the New Black, Netflix) as Pat, and Wilf Scolding (Cabaret, ATG/Underbelly) as Jeff.
The cast also includes Antonia Bernath as Jessica Dunn, Josh Goulding as Tim Dunn, Jay Simpson as Detective, and Unique Spencer as Adrienne.
Joining the ensemble are Arianne Carless, Roland Royal III and Matt Whitchurch, alongside previously announced cast members, Tee Arnold, Donna Augustin, Reanna Bleu, Katie Buchholz, and Linseigh Green.
Director of The Story and Associate Artist at the National Theatre, Clint Dyer, said: “In a time of little nuance, the cost of a ‘story’ is felt...This timely, important play by Tracey Scott Wilson fearlessly talks into why we should always fight for the truth. I can't wait to work with this incredible cast and creative team to bring The Story to the Olivier stage this autumn.”
There’s the truth and then there’s the story. When a white teacher is killed in a black neighbourhood, four journalists race to get the headline – at any cost. But when shocking new evidence pulls them into the dark heart of the case, they are each forced to confront what they’re prepared to risk to tell their version of the truth.
Joining director Clint Dyer in the artistic team are set designer Anna Fleischle, costume designer Natalie Pryce, lighting designer Paul Anderson, sound designer Benjamin Grant, movement director Lucie Pankhurst, co-video designers Gino Ricardo Green and Tal Yarden, intimacy director Ingrid Mackinnon, casting directors Alastair Coomer CDG and Martin Poile CDG, dialect coach Hazel Holder, and voice coach Cathleen McCarron.