The Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick, East London, has announced the full cast for its highly anticipated revival of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, a production that will also serve as the grand reopening of the venue following a major architectural redevelopment. The show runs from 2 September to 3 October 2026, exactly fifty years after the choreopoem’s original premiere and subsequent two-year Broadway run.

The five-strong cast comprises Tatenda Naomi Matsvai, whose previous credits include cow | deer at the Royal Court and work at Brixton House; Nadine Higgin, known for Mother Courage And Her Children at Shakespeare’s Globe and Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre; Cherrelle Skeete, who has appeared in two National Theatre productions, The Authenticator and Alterations; Alex Thomas-Smith, whose credits include What It Feels Like For a Girl; and Ibilola Rossi, seen on screen in NCIS and The Midwich Cuckoos.

A Landmark Work Returns to London

Shange’s choreopoem — a form that blends poetry, music and movement — weaves together the stories of seven Black women, exploring love, violence, joy and survival. First performed in 1975, it became a defining work of American theatre, transferring to Broadway where it ran for nearly two years and earned Tony Award nominations. Despite its canonical status internationally, it has rarely been staged in London, a point underscored by Yard Artistic Director Jay Miller, who told The Guardian: “One of those plays that should be in our theatrical canon but isn’t, [for colored girls…] should be up there with the Sarah Kanes, the Caryl Churchills.”

The new production is directed by Diane Page, a JMK Award winner, with original music composed by grime artist Jammz. The creative team also includes choreographer Ingrid Mackinnon, sound designer Esther Kehinde Ajayi, lighting designer Ali Hunter, and costume designer Cat Fuller. Tickets are available via The Yard Theatre’s website, with prices starting from £10 and a £5 door price for under-27s through the venue’s long-running No Empty Seats scheme.

A New Building, Twice the Size

The production coincides with the reopening of The Yard itself in its brand-new, purpose-built home on Queen’s Yard in Hackney Wick. The Yard was founded in 2011 when Miller and fifty volunteers converted a disused warehouse into a theatre on a six-month lease. Over fifteen years it grew into one of London’s most acclaimed fringe venues, with productions transferring to the National Theatre, winning Olivier Awards and spawning BAFTA-winning television adaptations.

The new building, designed by RIBA award-winning architect Takero Shimazaki, sits on the same site as the original warehouse and features a 220-seat curved auditorium — more than double the capacity of its predecessor. The structure has been built sustainably, incorporating reused brick from the old venue and a six-storey natural ventilation chimney, reflecting a broader industry commitment to environmentally responsible construction in the arts sector.

Events and Late Nights Programmed Alongside the Run

The Yard has assembled an extensive programme of ancillary events to accompany the production. On Thursday 10 September, a Writer’s Night will bring together writers from theatre, film, television and poetry to discuss Shange’s influence on the canon; attendance is included with a ticket to that evening’s performance. The following night, Friday 11 September, Jammz will curate a club night titled NUFF, featuring an all-femme line-up of grime artists, with tickets sold separately.

A Black Out Night dedicated to Black femmes takes place on Thursday 17 September, continuing a series of such nights the venue has previously hosted. On Thursday 24 September, director Diane Page will appear in conversation with Booker Prize-winning novelist Bernadine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other, hosted by Wema Mumma — again included with a ticket to the evening’s show. A short film programme curated to complement the production will be screened on Friday 25 September, with tickets available separately.

The production has received support from Cockayne – Grants for the Arts and the London Community Foundation. The Yard Theatre is located at Queen’s Yard, Hackney Wick, London E9 5EN.