Mark Akintimehin

ONYX

Mark is from London and trained initially in Performing Arts at the City of Westminster College before attending Identity School of Acting and Intermission Youth Theatre.

He has just finished playing the role of ‘Onyx’ in the award winning and sell out run of FOR BLACK BOYS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE HUE GETS TOO HEAVY at the Royal Court Theatre, having been part of the original cast last year at the New Diorama Theatre. Other theatre work includes: ‘Capulet’ in ROMEO AND JULIET and ‘Bottom’ in A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM (Shakespeare Within The Abbey / Globe Theatre), ‘Kwame’ in TRIBAL (Theatre Peckham) and ‘Shylock’ in EXCLUDED (Intermission Theatre).

Screen credits include the role of ‘Samuel’ in comedy series SOMEWHERE IN LONDON (Big Deal Films) and ‘Vauxhall’ in the short film LITTLE MONSTER (Knucklehead).

Mark is a professional rapper and has experience in music production. He is highly skilled in street theatre and enjoys basketball and boxing.

Emmanuel Akwafo

PITCH

Theatre includes: Jack and the beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith Theatre); For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy (Royal Court Theatre/ New Diorama); Whisper Me (Dugdale Theatre); The Bald Soprano (Leicester Square Theatre); The Spalding Suite (Southbank Centre); The Ecstatic Bible (Melton Theatre) 

Television includes: Sex Education (Netflix) Eastenders (BBC)The Crown (Sony Pictures Television); 24: Live Another Day (Imagine Television Teakwood Lane Productions 20th); M.I High (Recorded Picture Company). Grange Hill;(CBBC)

Film includes: Now You See Me 2 (Summit Entertainment); Tarzan (Warner Bros).

Nnabiko Ejimofor

JET

Theatre includes: Jitney (Old Vic Theatre & National Tour) For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy (Royal Court/Nouveau Riche/Boundless/New Diorama). Film includes: Attercoppe [short], Tingles [short], Figure [short]. Nnabiko graduated from RADA in 2020.

Darragh Hand

SABLE

Darragh Hand’s break out role was as Sable in Nouveau Riche’s production of FOR BLACK BOYS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE HUE GETS TOO HEAVY at both The New Diorama (d.Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu) followed by The Royal Court (d. Ryan Calais-Cameron). Darragh and the rest of the cast were recognised for their work at the Stage Debut Awards 2022, winning the Best Performer accolade.

Darragh recently starred in BBC’s SILENT WITNESS (d. Bindi De Stoppani) and has just wrapped on ITV’s GRACE (d. Camilla Strøm Henriksen).

Darragh’s other stage credits include Glyndebourne’s touring production of Joseph Bologne’s L’AMANT ANONYME (d. Simone-Ibbett Brown), the Soho Theatre’s BANGERS (d. Chris Sonnex) and the Pleasance Theatre’s THE LAND OF LOST CONTENT (d. Nic Connaughton).

Radio work includes GEORGES for BBC Radio 4.

Darragh graduated from The London College of Music.

Aruna Jalloh

OBSIDIAN

Aruna Jalloh’s break out role was as Obsidian in Nouveau Riche’s production of FOR BLACK BOYS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE HUE GETS TOO HEAVY at both the New Diorama (d. Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu) and The Royal Court (d. Ryan Calais Cameron). Aruna and the rest of the cast were recognised for their work at the Stage Debut Awards 2022, winning the Best Performer accolade. 

Aruna’s other theatre credits include MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (d. Roy Alexander Weise) for the RSC. 

Aruna graduated from Rose Bruford College.

Kaine Lawrence

MIDNIGHT

Kaine graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2021, with a BA (Hons) in Performance. He has just finished playing the role of ‘Midnight’ in the sell out show FOR BLACK BOYS… at the Royal Court Theatre following an initial run at the New Diorama Theatre last year. Other roles include: lead role ‘Burnsy’ in MAN ENOUGH for Mind Over Matter at Theatre Peckham. 

Whilst in training, he played ‘Princess Seraphina’ in MOTHER CLAPS MOLLY HOUSE, ‘Cacambo’ in CANDIDE, ‘Ensemble’ in SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, ‘Watchman’ in AGAMEMNON’S RETURN, ‘Richard Mason’ in JANE EYRE and ‘Admiral Boom’ in MARY POPPINS. He also starred as ‘Newt Lee/Riley’ in the ELODS production of PARADE.

Kaine is British Jamaican with a great ear for accents, is a highly skilled baritone, rap and reggae singer and has a passion for American football, basketball and roller skating.

Ishmail Aaron

UNDERSTUDY OBSIDIAN/SABLE

Ishmail trained at The Urdang Academy and The BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology 

Theatre includes: Ensemble/Cover Billy Flynn in CHICAGO (UK Tour & Japan) Kairo in WILD WING DOVES (Above The Stag) Ensemble in DUSTY-THE DUSTY SPRINGFIELD MUSICAL (UK Tour) Kyle in LEGALLY BLONDE (Leicester Curve & Opéra Garnier) CINDERELLA (Mercury Theatre) 

Film includes: Ballerina (upcoming film) 

Commercials include: Frito Lays, Capella University, Heineken, Walkers Max, Littlewoods, Amazon Launchpad, Eurostar, O2 Music, KFC, VISA Apple Pay, Dixon’s Carphone 

Music Videos include: Elderbrook vs Rudimental-‘Something About you’ Knox Brown & Gallant-‘Reignite’ 

Shaquille Jack

UNDERSTUDY JET/PITCH

Shaquille graduated from Mountview’s MA Acting Course in 2021. Credits since graduating include The Big House’s REDEMPTION (Aaron) and RICE & PEAS (Michael) for Blouse & Skirts/Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. Shaquille comes from a rugby background, having played for England U16, Cardiff University First XV, and for professional teams Bath & Wasps. Shaquille originally saw this production at New Diorama and feels very fortunate to be part of play celebrates bringing black boys and their stories to the forefront. 

Jack Matthew

UNDERSTUDY MIDNIGHT/ONYX

Ishmail trained at The Urdang Academy and The BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology 

Theatre includes: Ensemble/Cover Billy Flynn in CHICAGO (UK Tour & Japan) Kairo in WILD WING DOVES (Above The Stag) Ensemble in DUSTY-THE DUSTY SPRINGFIELD MUSICAL (UK Tour) Kyle in LEGALLY BLONDE (Leicester Curve & Opéra Garnier) CINDERELLA (Mercury Theatre) 

Film includes: Ballerina (upcoming film) 

Commercials include: Frito Lays, Capella University, Heineken, Walkers Max, Littlewoods, Amazon Launchpad, Eurostar, O2 Music, KFC, VISA Apple Pay, Dixon’s Carphone 

Music Videos include: Elderbrook vs Rudimental-‘Something About you’ Knox Brown & Gallant-‘Reignite’