Mayko Nguyen and bahia watson to star in Canadian premiere of The Welkin
iPhoto caption: L to R: Raquel Duffy, Amaka Umeh, Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, Mayko Nguyen, Ruth Goodwin, Hallie Seline, and Brefny Caribou. Photo by Dahlia Katz.
Soulpepper Theatre, the Howland Company, and Crow’s Theatre have announced the 17-person cast appearing in the Canadian premiere of Lucy Kirkwood’s The Welkin, a courtroom drama set in 1759 England.
Mayko Nguyen and bahia watson will lead the ensemble of the 2020 play, which premiered at London’s National Theatre before running at New York’s Atlantic Theatre Company in a production starring Sandra Oh.
When the young Sally Poppy (watson) is charged with a heinous murder and sentenced to hang, she claims to be pregnant. A jury of 12 matrons must then decide whether she’s telling the truth, or just trying to escape execution. As a boisterous mob gathers outside, only midwife Lizzy (Nguyen) seems prepared to defend the girl.
The rest of the cast consists of Olunike Adeliyi, Ghazal Azarbad, Nadine Bhabha, Brefny Caribou, Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, Raquel Duffy, Kyra Harper, Fiona Highet, Cameron Laurie, Craig Lauzon, Annie Luján, Natasha Mumba, Hallie Seline, and Addison Wagman. Alternate Liisa Repo-Martell will perform the role of Lizzy on Sundays and Tuesdays.
The design team includes Julie Fox (set), Michelle Tracey (costumes), Bonnie Beecher (lighting), and Thomas Ryder Payne (sound/arrangements).
“I was completely floored the first time I read this play,” wrote director Weyni Mengesha in a press release. “It speaks directly to so many themes I care deeply about — and Lucy Kirkwood’s writing is razor sharp, moving, and hilarious… To direct this powerful, timely story as my final production as artistic director at Soulpepper, alongside one of the most extraordinary ensembles I’ve ever worked with, is an incredible honour.”
The Welkin runs from September 4 to October 5 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available here.
Soulpepper Theatre is an Intermission partner. Learn more about Intermission’s partnership model here.
Liam Donovan
Liam is Intermission’s senior editor. He lives in Toronto. His Substack newsletter is available at loamdonovan.substack.com.
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