Michael Buffong and the cast of Talawa's Guys and Dolls on transporting the musical to Harlem

We popped into rehearsals for Talawa Theatre's new all-black production of Guys and Dolls, which opens at the Royal Exchange in Manchester this week.

Directed by Michael Buffong, Ray Fearon is to lead the cast as Nathan Detroit alongside Ashley Zhangazha as Sky Masterson, Abiona Omonua as Sarah Brown and Lucy Vandi as Miss Adelaide.

The rest of the cast include Fela Lufadeju as Benny Southwest, Javar La'Trail Parker as Rusty Charlie, Trevor A Toussaint as Arvide Abernathy, Chelsey Emery as Agatha, Jaime Tait as Calvin, T'Shan Williams as Martha, Ewen Cummins as Lieutenant Brannigan, Kurt Kansley as Harry The Horse, Darren Charles as Society Max, Nathanael Campbell as Liverlips Louis, Toyan Thomas-Browne as Moe, Evonnee Bentley-Holder as Mimi, Melanie Marshall as General Matilda B Cartwright, Joe Speare as Big Jule, Koko Basigara as Allison, Danielle Kassaraté as Angie The Ox.

Kenrick H20 Sandy will choreograph Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows' musical about gangsters in New York and director Buffong will move the setting to Harlem in 1939.

Songs in the musical include "Luck Be A Lady", "Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat".

Guys and Dolls runs at Royal Exchange Theatre from 2 December to 27 January.