Simple8 announces cast of Land of the Free, based on the life of John Wilkes Booth

Acclaimed theatre ensemble Simple8 has revealed casting for their latest show, Land of the Free.

Written by Sebastian Armesto and Dudley Hinton and directed by Armesto, the piece examines the life of the actor John Wilkes Booth and how he came to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

It is recommended for those aged eleven and above due to its depiction of violence and murder and its references to death. Famously, Wilkes Booth is also featured as a character in the Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins.

Armesto and Hinton commented: “Not only is it an extraordinary story, but a pertinent one. America has a history of political violence, exemplified by the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump. And the issues from the  time of Booth and Lincoln – the fraying of institutions, racial justice, local vs federal government, freedom, immigration – are the same issues being fought over in America today.”

The cast is comprised of Grammy nominee Brandon Bassir (The Grapes of Wrath) as John Wilkes Booth, Hannah Emanuel (Les Enfants du Paradis) as Keene / Mark Lincoln / Knox / Mudd / Jack, Natalie Law (Leopoldstadt) as June / Rathbone / Lucy / Herold, Sara Lessore (The Tempest) as Asia / Keckley / Leale / Isabel / Servant / Urquart, Owen Oakeshott (Witness for the Prosecution) as Ford / Junius / Stoddart / Ashmun / Conger / Powell / Garrett, Clara Onyemere (A Dead Body in Taos) as Lincoln / Azerodt / Union Solider / Will, and Dan Wolff (Fiddler on the Roof) as Hawk, Edwin, Surratt, Union Solider, Boston). Emmanuel also serves as music supervisor and the show was cast internally at Simple8.

In addition, the creative team includes set and costume designer Kate Bunce, lighting designer Chuma Emembolu.

Land of the Free runs at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 9 October to 9 November 2024, with a press night set for 15 October. Tickets are on sale below.