Elmina's Kitchen
Encyclopedia
Elmina's Kitchen is the fifth play from the British
actor
, playwright
and broadcaster
, Kwame Kwei-Armah
. Set in a West Indian restaurant, Elmina's Kitchen tells a tale of family, drugs and crime on Hackney
's Murder Mile. The play is centred around the character of Deli, the owner of a West Indian restaurant and father to Ashley. Ashley is a misguided teen who can't help but be seduced by the gangster culture that surrounds him. Deli tries to run a successful restaurant while attempting to keep his son on the straight and narrow particularly when his son gets closer to a well known local gangster, Digger.
, London
where it ran until 25 August 2003. During its stint at The National Theatre, Elmina's Kitchen was directed by Angus Jackson and starred Doña Croll
, George Harris
, Emmanuel Idowu, Oscar James
, Paterson Joseph
and Shaun Parkes
.
In 20 April 2005 Elmina's Kitchen began its run at the Garrick Theatre
, London, again directed by Angus Jackson. This particular production starred Doña Croll, Oscar James, Shaun Parkes and Don Warrington
all of whom starred in in the premiere production. It also featured Michael Obiora
and the writer, Kwame Kwei-Armah as
. The show took place in authentic settings separating itself from the stage performance. The televised drama featured the cast that initially performed the play at the National Theatre.
Award for the Most Promising New Playwright of 2003. Kwei-Armah was also shortlisted in the "best new play" category at the 2004 Laurence Olivier Awards
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, Kwame Kwei-Armah
Kwame Kwei-Armah
Kwame Kwei-Armah, is a British actor, playwright, singer and broadcaster. In 2005 he became the second black Briton to have a play staged in the West End...
. Set in a West Indian restaurant, Elmina's Kitchen tells a tale of family, drugs and crime on Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
's Murder Mile. The play is centred around the character of Deli, the owner of a West Indian restaurant and father to Ashley. Ashley is a misguided teen who can't help but be seduced by the gangster culture that surrounds him. Deli tries to run a successful restaurant while attempting to keep his son on the straight and narrow particularly when his son gets closer to a well known local gangster, Digger.
On Stage Productions
Elmina's Kitchen premiered in May 2003 at the National TheatreRoyal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where it ran until 25 August 2003. During its stint at The National Theatre, Elmina's Kitchen was directed by Angus Jackson and starred Doña Croll
Doña Croll
Doña Croll is a Jamaican-born British actress. She is best known for her British soap opera roles as Pearl McHugh in Family Affairs and more recently as Vera Corrigan in the BBC soap, Doctors....
, George Harris
George Harris
George Harris may refer to:*George Harris, 1st Baron Harris , British general*George Prideaux Robert Harris , Australian naturalist*George Harris , English Unitarian minister in Scotland...
, Emmanuel Idowu, Oscar James
Oscar James
Oscar James is a Trinidadian actor, who is based in the United Kingdom. He has had a long and varied career, but is best known for appearing on British television, in particular the BBC soap opera EastEnders, where he played original character, Tony Carpenter, for over two years...
, Paterson Joseph
Paterson Joseph
-Career:Born in London. Attended Cardinal Hinsley R.C High School in North West London. Joseph first trained at the Studio '68 of Theatre Arts, London – 1983–85 with Robert Henderson, then at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . In recent years he has had a high number of roles in...
and Shaun Parkes
Shaun Parkes
Shaun Parkes is an English actor currently appearing in the ITV drama Identity.-Biography:At 16 he enrolled at Seltec College to study drama, two years later he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.-Career:...
.
In 20 April 2005 Elmina's Kitchen began its run at the Garrick Theatre
Garrick Theatre
The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster. It opened on 24 April 1889 with The Profligate, a play by Arthur Wing Pinero. In its early years, it appears to have specialised in the performance of melodrama, and today the theatre is a...
, London, again directed by Angus Jackson. This particular production starred Doña Croll, Oscar James, Shaun Parkes and Don Warrington
Don Warrington
Don Warrington, MBE is a Trinidadian British actor.-Personal life:Warrington was born in Trinidad and Tobago on 23 May 1951 and brought up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England from age five. His father was the Trinidadian politician, Basil Kydd, who died in 1958. He has two sons.His acting career...
all of whom starred in in the premiere production. It also featured Michael Obiora
Michael Obiora
Michael Obiora is an English actor and writer.-Career:Michael Obiora was born on 8 October 1986 in North-West London to Nigerian-Igbo parents...
and the writer, Kwame Kwei-Armah as
Television Productions
In June 2005, Elmina's Kitchen was televised on the UK's BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. The show took place in authentic settings separating itself from the stage performance. The televised drama featured the cast that initially performed the play at the National Theatre.
Awards
For the National Theatre production Kwame Kwei-Armah won The Evening StandardEvening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
Award for the Most Promising New Playwright of 2003. Kwei-Armah was also shortlisted in the "best new play" category at the 2004 Laurence Olivier Awards
Laurence Olivier Awards
The Laurence Olivier Award is presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre. Named after the renowned British actor Laurence Olivier, they are given for West End shows and other productions staged in London...
.