RSC IN ASSOCIATION WITH KILN THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL CASTING FOR DRIFTWOOD
RSC IN ASSOCIATION WITH KILN THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL CASTING FOR DRIFTWOOD
DRIFTWOOD
by Martina Laird
Directed by Justin Audibert
Royal Shakespeare Company – The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
17 April – 30 May 2026
Press Night: Tuesday 28 April 2026, 7pm
BOX OFFICE: 01789 331111 | rsc.org.uk
Kiln Theatre
3 June – 4 July 2026
Press Night: Tuesday 9 June 2026, 7pm
BOX OFFICE: 020 7328 1000 | kilntheatre.com
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The Royal Shakespeare Company, in association with Kiln Theatre, today announces the full cast for its forthcoming production of Driftwood, a deeply evocative new play by Martina Laird, directed by Justin Audibert. The production will run at The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon from Friday 17 April to Saturday 30 May 2026, before transferring to Kiln Theatre in London from Wednesday 3 June. There will be a press night at The Other Place on Tuesday 28 April and a London press night on Tuesday 9 June.
The full cast comprises: Shane David-Joseph (Seldom); Ziggy Heath (Tom); Martins Imhangbe (Diamond); Roger Ringrose (Mansion); Ellen Thomas (Pearl); and Cat White (Ruby).
Playwright Martina Laird said: “Making my playwriting debut at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Kiln Theatre with Driftwood is both an honour and a joy. This play grew from a deep desire to explore inherited patterns, the desire for connection and self-determination, and to place Caribbean voices and histories at the centre of the story. To see these characters brought to life by such a generous and gifted ensemble, and under Justin Audibert’s direction, feels profoundly moving.”
Set in 1950s colonial Trinidad, Driftwood explores self-determination, family, belonging and the vibrant tensions of a community on the edge of change. This deeply evocative story of self-determination, family and belonging is set against the backdrop of colonial Trinidad on the edge of political independence.
Shane David-Joseph makes his RSC debut as Seldom. His theatre credits include Jerusalem (Apollo Theatre); Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Crucible/Lyric Hammersmith); Bleak Expectations (Criterion Theatre); and Magic Goes Wrong (Apollo Theatre). On screen, his work includes Doctor Who (BBC) and The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix).
Ziggy Heath returns to the RSC, after his appearance in The New Real in 2024. His theatre work includes Scenes from the Climate Era (Gate Theatre); Wendy and Peter (Royal Lyceum Theatre); and French Without Tears (Orange Tree Theatre). On screen, his credits include Black Mirror (Hated in the Nation), Cold Feet, Father Brown, One Life, How to Build a Girl and Denial.
Martins Imhangbe plays Diamond in his RSC debut. His theatre credits include Death of a Salesman (Young Vic); The Tragedy of King Richard II (Almeida Theatre); Absolute Hell (National Theatre); Between Riverside and Crazy (Hampstead Theatre); and Othello (Riverside Studios). On television, he is known for his role in Bridgerton (Netflix).
Roger Ringrose makes his RSC debut in the role of Mansion. His theatre credits include Witness for the Prosecution (London County Hall); The Other Boleyn Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre); Never So Good (National Theatre); King Lear (Barbican); and King Henry VI, Part 3 (Shakespeare's Globe). On screen, his work includes The Witcher, Call the Midwife, Broadchurch, Outlander and the film Stan & Ollie.
Known for her on-screen roles in Eastenders and Teachers, Ellen Thomas makes her RSC debut as Pearl. Her theatre credits include The Wife of Willesden (Kiln Theatre); Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (Almeida Theatre); and Fuente Ovejuna (National Theatre). On television, her work includes EastEnders, Death in Paradise, Humans, Outnumbered and Casualty. Her film credits include Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, Johnny English Reborn and Breaking and Entering. She is also the voice of Ambessa in the Netflix series Arcane.
Winner of Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival’s Diversity in Cannes showcase,
Cat White plays Ruby, having last performed at the RSC in Cymbeline in 2023. Her theatre credits include The Watsons (Menier Chocolate Factory/Harold Pinter Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre); Petroleuse (Lyric Hammersmith); and Dear Audrey (Trafalgar Studios). On television, her credits include Bridgerton, Black Mirror, The Capture and Dracula. Her film work includes Farewell She Goes.
Director Justin Audibert said: “I feel truly blessed to have assembled such a talented cast led by Martins and Ellen to bring Martina’s wonderfully rich and powerful debut play to audiences in Stratford upon Avon and London.”
The creative team includes: Director Justin Audibert; Set and Costume Designer Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey; Lighting Designer Simon Spencer; Composer Christella Litras; Sound Designer Tony Gayle; Movement Director Kloé Dean; Dramaturg Sebastian Born; Casting Director Matthew Dewsbury CDG.
For RSC enquiries please contact:
Olivia Scull, olivia.scull@rsc.org.uk, 074433 84242
For Kiln Theatre enquiries please contact:
Freya Cowdry: freya@joallanpr.com | 07889 542 245 | 020 3997 7477
Burte Tsogbadrakh: burte@joallanpr.com | 07753 222 768 | 0203 997 7477
NOTES TO EDITORS
DRIFTWOOD
By Martina Laird
Royal Shakespeare Company in association with Kiln Theatre
The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
17 April – 30 May 2026
Press Night: Tuesday 28 April 2026
Creative Team Talk: Thursday 23 April
Post show talk: Thursday 7 May
Captioned performances: Saturday 9 May, 1.30pm and Friday 29 May, 7.30pm
Chilled and handheld captioned performance: Thursday 14 May, 1.30pm
Audio described performances with pre-show touch tour: Saturday 16 May, 1.30pm and Friday 22 May, 7.30pm
Chilled performance: Saturday 23 May, 1.30pm
Kiln Theatre
3 June – 4 July 2026
Press Night: Tuesday 9 June
Audio Described: Thursday 25 June, 7.30pm preceded by a Touch Tour
Captioned: Thursday 2 July, 7.30pm
Relaxed: Saturday 27 June, 2.30pm
Alcohol Free: Tuesday 30 June, 7.30pm
Post show Q&A: Friday 19 June, 7.30pm
'dis is my home. My whole life. My history here. And de only future I go have is here.'
As colonial Trinidad advances towards political independence, a downtown Port of Spain gentlemen’s club becomes entangled in a different kind of custody battle.
ALMA promises its guests a comfortable environment to relax and indulge. Owned by Englishman Mansion, it's governed by Pearl and coveted by beguiling Ruby.
Then Diamond drifts in. His impetuous deal with a corrupt US Marine imperils ALMA, and all their lives are collateral damage. One wrong move and everything could shatter.
Driftwood is the first play by Martina Laird. Directed by Chichester Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Justin Audibert and set in 1950s Caribbean, it’s a deeply evocative story of self-determination and the search for family and belonging.
Suitable for ages 14+. For more information about the themes and content of this play, please see our content advisory page.
ENDS
KILN THEATRE
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Kiln Theatre is the creative and cultural hub of Kilburn in Brent, a uniquely diverse area of London where over 140 languages are spoken.
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As Tricycle and now Kiln, we are proud of our artistic history and passionate about our future. We nurture talent and develop pathways whilst celebrating diversity and removing barriers – driving world-class theatre and opening up opportunities for who gets to make it.
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The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
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With thanks to Season Supporter Charles Holloway OBE
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New Work at the RSC is generously supported by Hawthornden Foundation and The Drue and H.J. Heinz II Charitable Trust
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