Oroonoko
By Biyi Bandele
Year staged: 1999
Theatre Company: Royal Shakespeare Company
Staged in: The Other Place
Cast Size: 14
Synopsis
In 1688 the British writer and playwright Aphra Behn published her novella, Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave. It tells the story of an African prince tricked into slavery and transported to the British colony of Surinam in South America. Biyi Bandele’s Oroonoko is a play that is at once a celebration of Behn’s humanist vision and an irreverent re-interpretation of the three hundred years old text.
Original Cast
Jo Martin
Lady Onola
Kemi Baruwa
Bola
Nicky Reid
Royal Drummer
Israel Aduramo
Laye
Rod Arthur
Captain Stanmore
David Collings
Byam
Ewen Cummins
Ibn Saeed
Michael Fenner
Trefry
Geff Francis
Orombo
Nadine Marshall
Imoinda
Nicholas Monu
Oroonoko
David Oyelowo
Aboan
Ewart James Walters
Akogun / Kabiyesi
Singhateh Farimang
Ibn Sule / Royal Drummer
Jo Martin
Lady Onola
Kemi Baruwa
Bola
Nicky Reid
Royal Drummer
Israel Aduramo
Laye
Rod Arthur
Captain Stanmore
David Collings
Byam
Ewen Cummins
Ibn Saeed
Michael Fenner
Trefry
Geff Francis
Orombo
Nadine Marshall
Imoinda
Nicholas Monu
Oroonoko
David Oyelowo
Aboan
Ewart James Walters
Akogun / Kabiyesi
Singhateh Farimang
Ibn Sule / Royal Drummer
Production Team
Terry King
Fights
Tim Mitchell
Lighting
Juwon Ogungbe
Music
Alex Oma-Pius
Choreographer
Martin Slavin
Sound
Andrew Wade
Company Voice Work
Cicely Berry
Company Voice Work
Mark Graham
Production Manager
Jenny Alden
Costume Supervisor
Diana Stalker
Stage Manager
Pip Horobin
Deputy Stage Manager
Joanna Stone
Assistant Stage Manager
Terry King
Fights
Tim Mitchell
Lighting
Juwon Ogungbe
Music
Alex Oma-Pius
Choreographer
Martin Slavin
Sound
Andrew Wade
Company Voice Work
Cicely Berry
Company Voice Work
Mark Graham
Production Manager
Jenny Alden
Costume Supervisor
Diana Stalker
Stage Manager
Pip Horobin
Deputy Stage Manager
Joanna Stone
Assistant Stage Manager
Additional Materials
Video Recording
Ref: RSC/TS/2/2/1999/ORO1
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Prompt Script
Ref: RSC/SM/1/1999/ORO1
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Sound Recording
Ref: RSC/SO/1/2/1999/ORO1
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Video Recording (3 camera)
Ref: NVAP/99/10
V&A Theatre and Performance Collection