TROUBLE IN BUTETOWN is a world premiere by the award-winning playwright Diana Nneka Atuona (Liberian Girl), directed by Tinuke Craig (Jitney, Old Vic).
It will run between 10 February 2023 – 25 March 2023 at Donmar Warehouse in London.
“First thing I’m a need you to do is keep my secret. can’t let nobody know I’m here and I mean nobody”
In her illegal boarding house in Butetown, Cardiff, Gwyneth Mbanefo (Sarah Parish, Bancroft) toils tirelessly to keep afloat.
It’s a port town during the war; home to souls from every corner of the globe. When Nate (BIFA winner Samuel Adewunmi), an African American GI, escapes his barracks and discovers this new world without segregation, can he find safe harbour in Tiger Bay? And with danger on every corner, who can he trust?
The Artiscape spoke with Rita Bernard-Shaw about her role in the play.
Can you tell us about the character you play?
Rita: Connie is a 17-year-old girl born and raised in Tiger Bay in the 40s. She has a deep love for music and although she loves Tiger Bay, she very much wants to leave home and explore the world.
How do you prep for a role like Connie?
Rita: I’ve been doing a lot of research on Welsh accents in the 40s and specifically the Tiger Bay accent which had influences from many parts of the world as it was a cultural epicentre at that time being the main part in Wales. I’ve also been watching and listening to a lot of 40s films and music to see where girls like Connie might have been influenced.
I understand this will be your professional stage debut. What are the challenges for you in performing in live performances versus TV?
Rita: Before I went into tv and film (as most actors do) I only ever had performed live and my training wasn’t for film, so I’m very much excited to get back to it. I think the main difference rather than ‘challenge’ will be seeing what audiences respond to in the play and being able to change or amplify those things in the next performances.
The challenging part for me has been trying to find the ‘sweet spots’ on the stage where the majority of the audience can see you. In film and tv, although you have to stick to your mark, the camera mainly finds you.
The Donmar is a really unique space and playing about with finding the balance between keeping the staging natural, but unnatural in the sense of viewpoints is really interesting.
What are you looking forward to in performing in the show at the Donmar Warehouse?
Rita: I’m very much looking forward to creating this relatively untold part of the world. Where the story is placed and the world in which they live in isn’t widely known and I’m excited to see what we can give to the audience and they might never have seen or heard before.
The cast are all unbelievably talented and I can’t wait to see what we can create together along with our amazing director, writer and stage management team.
Can you tell us what audiences expect from the play?
Rita: A lot of laughs, a few tears, a bit of music and a transportation into a world untold.
10 February 2023 – 25 March 2023
