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The Bush Theatre production of Shifters, Benedict Lombe鈥檚 new romance play, begins its West End transfer August 12.

The production, which previously enjoyed a sell-out run at the Bush Theatre, stars Heather Agyepong (School Girls, or The African Mean Girls Play) and Tosin Cole (Supacell, Doctor Who) for a strictly limited season of nine weeks at the Duke of York鈥檚 Theatre, London. Directed by BAFTA nominee Lynette Linton (Blues for An Alabama Sky, Clyde's, August in England), the play will officially open August 21.

厂丑颈蹿迟别谤蝉鈥� transfer to the Duke of York鈥檚 is a ground-breaking moment for Lombe, who follows in the footsteps of Natasha Gordon (Nine Night) and Yasmin Joseph (闯鈥橭耻惫别谤迟) as only the third Black British female playwright to have her play staged in the history of the West End.

Said Lombe in a previous statement, "厂丑颈蹿迟别谤蝉鈥� transfer is a big moment. Our dreamy, tender, unrepentantly romantic show about two lost souls finding a connection that can't be forgotten was a hit with Bush audiences. Now we get to recreate our magic on a bigger stage! I hope what Shifters does鈥攁s well as invite new audiences to fall in love with Des and Dre鈥攊s accelerate the pace for the next wave of Black British female playwrights in the West End."

Agyepong added that 鈥渟hows written by Black British women or plays centering two dark skin leads often don鈥檛 reach West End stages, so it really feels like we鈥檙e part of a legacy. Our stories in all their nuance and beauty have always mattered but it鈥檚 great to be on a bigger platform to allow them to shine a little brighter.鈥�

The West End production features set and costume design by Alex Berry, lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Tony Gayle, composition by Xana, and movement and intimacy direction by Shelley Maxwell. The production dramaturg is Deirdre O鈥橦alloran, the voice coach is Joel Trill, and casting is by Heather Basten.

Shifters was originally commissioned by Bush Theatre, supported by Jerwood Foundation.

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