Katori Hall's Our Lady of Kibeho at Royal and Derngate: casting announced

Casting has been announced for the UK premiere of Katori Hall's Our Lady of Kibeho, which opens at Northampton's Royal and Derngate in January.

Hall's play is set in Rwanda in 1981, and follows reports of a schoolgirl who claims she has been visited by the Virgin Mary. It was hailed 'the most important play of the year' by the Wall Street Journal when it first premiered in New York in 2014.

Appearing in the UK production will be Gabrielle Brooks (Twelfth Night) as schoolgirl Alphonsine, with Michelle Asante (Ruined) as Sister Evangelique and Ery Nzaramba (The Prisoner) as Father Tuyishime. The cast also features Michaela Blackburn, Ibinabo Jack, Pepter Lunkuse, Michael Mears, Keenan Munn‑Francis, Yasmin Mwanza, Rima Nsubuga, Ewart James Walters and Leo Wringer.

The piece is directed by James Dacre (who also directed Hall's The Mountaintop in 2010) and designed by Jonathan Fensom, with original music by Orlando Gough, choreography by Diane Alison Mitchell, photography by Pulitzer Prize-winning war photographer Paul Watson and aerial direction by Vicki Amedume. Lighting is by Charles Balfour with sound by Claire Windsor, movement by Diane Alison-Mitchell, musical direction by Michael Henry with magic consultancy by John Bulleid.

The ensemble cast will be supported by the Royal and Derngate Community Ensemble and members of the theatre's young company.

Our Lady of Kibeho runs from Saturday 12 January to Saturday 2 February 2019.