Award-winning young actor Ashley Walters returns to the stage in May to lead the cast of Levi David Addai’s newest play, Oxford Street, at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs. Walters, known to many for his role as Billy Bond in slick BBC conmen drama Hustle, appears alongside Amelia Lowdell, Nathaniel Martello-White, Cyril Nri and Shane Zaza in the comic play that looks behind the glossy façade of London’s hottest shopping street.
At the Oxford Street branch of Total Sports, security guard Kofi and his workmates ensure everything runs smoothly, helping the day along with jokes and talk of the future. They all want more from life; the only difference is how they will go about getting it.
Walters rose to fame as part of urban music collective So Solid Crew and made his major stage debut in 2002, appearing in the National Theatre’s production of Roy Williams’s Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads. He has gone on to star in films including Stormbreaker, Life And Lyrics and Bullet Boy, for which he won the Best Newcomer award at the British Independent Film Awards.
Addai had his first play 93.2FM staged at the Royal Court in 2005. His second piece, House Of Agnes, has recently opened at South London’s Oval House theatre.
Oxford Street, which runs between 2 and 31 May (press night 7 May), is directed by Dawn Walton, who previously directed 93.2FM both at the Royal Court and on tour. Her other productions include Rampage and The Shining (both Royal Court), Winners (Young Vic) and Of Mice And Men (Southwark Playhouse).
MA