Simple8 presents
LAND OF THE FREE
Southwark Playhouse 9th October – 9th November 2024
A dramatic presentation of the life of the actor John Wilkes Booth and how he came to assassinate President Lincoln
“The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one “
Abraham Lincoln
1865: The United States are disunited by politics, power and race. To celebrate the end of Civil War, a victorious Abraham Lincoln goes to the theatre. Not long into the show a man walks in and shoots him. Who was he? Why did he do it? And why does it matter now?
In the lead up to a tumultuous American election in November, the award winning Simple8 examine the present by visiting the past, with a searing new play about John Wilkes Booth, the actor who assassinated a President
Cast and Creative Team
Brandon Bassir | John Wilkes Booth
Hannah Emanuel | Keene, Mary Lincoln, Knox, Mudd, Jack
Natalie Law | June, Rathbone, Lucy, Herold,
Sara Lessore | Asia, Keckley, Leale, Isabel, Urqhart
Owen Oakeshott | Junius, Stoddart, Ashmun, Conger, Powell, Garrett
Clara Onyemere | Lincoln, Azerodt, Will
Dan Wolff | Hawk, Edwin, Surratt, Boston
Written by Sebastian Armesto and Dudley Hinton
Director | Sebastian Armesto
Set and Costume Designer | Kate Bunce
Lighting Designer | Chuma Emembolu
Musical Supervisor | Hannah Emanuel
Costume Supervisor | Amy Trigg
Production Manager | Chris Buffham
Dialect Coach | Caitlin Stegemoller
Stage Manager | Elizabeth Patrick