A Raisin in the Sun heads to Oxford in October

This autumn, Oxford Playhouse welcomes a new staging of Lorraine Hansberry’s pivotal drama, A Raisin in the Sun, presented from Wednesday October 2nd to Saturday October 5th.

Directed by Tinuke Craig (Trouble in Butetown, Jitney, The Color Purple) in collaboration with the acclaimed theatre company Headlong, this production marks a significant cultural event, coinciding with Headlong’s return to Oxford.

A Raisin in the Sun made history in 1959 as the first play on Broadway written by a Black woman. Lorraine Hansberry’s narrative broke new ground by spotlighting racial tensions and the aspirations of a Black family in America, themes that remain profoundly relevant today. This production not only revisits those crucial conversations but also celebrates the legacy of Hansberry’s work in the context of modern societal challenges.

This classic family drama full of humour and heart remains relevant and powerful in a world still divided by inequality. In a rented apartment on Chicago’s South Side, the Younger family is full of hope, dreams, grief, and big plans. Their beloved father has died, and the money from his life insurance policy could change their lives. Mama wants to put down roots in a home of her own.

Her daughter Beneatha has her heart set on becoming a doctor. But her son Walter Lee thinks the money is his to spend — and he’s willing to sacrifice his values and his family to get what he wants. Each must face what it means to escape the confines of a segregated society. How do you create a meaningful life in a world designed to keep you down?

A Raisin in the Sun resonates through its exploration of themes such as inequality, family, and resilience. The play invites audiences to reflect on how far society has come and the road still ahead.

The cast includes Joséphine-Fransilja Brookman (High Times and Dirty Monsters, A Pigment of Your Imagination, Macbeth), Cash Holland (A Streetcar Named Desire, Odyssey, Julius Caesar ), Solomon Israel (Jitney, TheBarber Shop Chronicles, Miss Littlewood), Jonah Russell (Arms and the Man, I, Joan, The Brilliant Friend), Gilbert Kyem Jnr (The MilkmansPurpose, Love Speech), Kenneth Omole (Top Boy, Macbeth, Barbershop Chronicles) and Doreene Blackstock (Sex Education, Unknown Rivers).

The production marks a start of Oxford Playhouse’s partnership with the pioneering theatre company Headlong, as they relocate back to Oxford.

Playhouse Director Tinuke Craig said:

“It is a privilege to once again work alongside the creative powerhouse that is Headlong in their 50th year after collaborating on Jitney in 2021 whilst continuing my ongoing Artistic Associate role with Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. Now, the time is right to bring Lorraine Hansberry’s classic A Raisin in the Sun back to the stage in a relevant, fresh new production for today.”

Tickets for A Raisin in the Sun at Oxford Playhouse start from £14 and are available from Box Office: 01865 305305 or book online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com.

A Raisin in the Sun Cast

Here’s a list of the cast members for the upcoming production of “A Raisin in the Sun” at the Oxford Playhouse:

• Joséphine-Fransilja Brookman as Beneatha
• Cash Holland as Ruth
• Solomon Israel as Walter Lee
• Jonah Russell as Karl
• Doreene Blackstock as Lena
• Gilbert Kyem Jnr as George
• Kenneth Omole as Joseph and Bobo
• Jayden Dias, Josh Ndlovu, and Adiel Magaji alternating as Travis in Leeds and Oxford
• Jeriah Kibusi and Oliver Dunkley alternating as Travis in London and Nottingham

A Raisin in the Sun UK Tour Dates