Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses full casting announced

Casting has been announced for the upcoming stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses.

Sabrina Mahfouz has adapted Blackman's young adult novel for the stage, for a production which will open 1 February in Derby.

The cast will be led by Heather Agyepong and Billy Harris playing the roles of Sephy and Callum. They are joined by Doreene Blackstock as Jasmine, Jack Condon as Jude, Daniel Copeland as Ryan, Lisa Howard as Meggie, Chris Jack as Kamal and Kimisha Lewis as Minerva.

The love story is set in a volatile, racially segregated society and is told from the perspectives of two teenagers.

The show will be directed by Esther Richardson with design from Simon Kenny. The stage adaptation is based on the first book in Blackman's Noughts and Crosses series, which won the Fantastic Fiction Award and the Red House Children's book award. The show tours until May 2019 to venues including Northern Stage, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Belgrade, Brighton Theatre Royal and Bristol Old Vic.