Cast announced for UK premiere of Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Emmie Newitt 28 January, 2026, 10:35

The UK premiere of the Tony Award-winning play will take place at the Lyric Hammersmith in March. The production reunites Jocelyn Bioh (The Ladykillers Love Story) and Director Monique Touko (Marie and Rosetta) - the team behind the smash hit School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

jaja's african hair braiding uk premiere cast The cast of Jaja's African Hair Braiding. Photo by Chantel King and design by Bob King.

The cast includes Bola Akeju (School Girls) as Ndidi, Renee Bailey (Call the Midwife) as Vanessa/Sheila/Radia, babirye bukilwa (Dreaming Whilst Black) as Aminata, Zainab Jah (Boesman and Lena) as Jaja, Demmy Ladipo (Barber Shop Chronicles) as James/Franklin/Olu/Eric, Dani Moseley (Dreaming Whilst Black) as Michelle/Chrissy/Laniece, Sewa Zamba in their professional stage debut as Marie, Jadesola Odunjo (School Girls) as Miriam, Dolapo Oni (Iya-Ile) as Bea and Karene Peter (Rye Lane) as Jennifer.

Jaja's African Hair Braiding heads to the UK after premiering on Broadway as part of the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2023–2024 season. The hilarious and thought provoking new comedy quickly became one of the most talked about shows of the season. Its run was extended twice and a series. of its final performances were live streamed due to demand before a US tour commenced at the end of 2024. Jaja's African Hair Braiding won two Tony Awards and was nominated for six and received eight nominations that year across the Drama Desk Awards, Drama League Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Set in a bustling braiding salon in Harlem, New York, where neighbourhood women come to have their greatest hairstyle dreams come true. Over the course of one hot summers day, these women experience everything in the pressure cooker of the sweltering shop: from demanding customers to secrets and lies, laughter and betrayal. But each of these women has big dreams as well, dreams which increasingly pit them against the city they call home.

The full creative team includes Set Design by Paul Wills, Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Design by Cynthia De La Rosa, Costume Design by Jessica Cabassa, Lighting Design by Simisola Majekodunmi, Sound Design by Tony Gayle, Video Design by Dick Straker, Movement Direction by Kloé Dean, Casting by Julia Horan CDG, Associate Director Xanthus, Assistant Director Gràinne Flynn, Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Supervisor Suzanne Scotcher and Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Head of Department Teváe Humphrey.