Opening at the Marylebone Theatre on September 10, with previews beginning September 4, Tartuffe (Remixed) stars Oscar- and Olivier-Award winner Mark Rylance. Written and directed by Darren Raymond, this vibrant new adaptation relocates Molière’s classic comedy to a modern Nigerian-Jamaican household in England, blending rhyming couplets, spoken word, and music.
The Bottom Line
- Star Power: Mark Rylance leads the production as the charismatic man of God, collaborating with Darren Raymond.
- Cultural Shift: Molière’s satire is reimagined inside a contemporary Nigerian-Jamaican family environment.
- Accessibility: Over 2,250 tickets are priced at £30 and below, alongside a £20 ticket lottery for every performance.
Reimagining Molière Through a Contemporary Cultural Lens
When the outspoken Afolabi–Williams family gathers at Oga Afolabi’s mansion for a daughter’s impending wedding, tensions quickly mount. Relatives arrive from far and wide, family traditions are in full swing, and opinions are never in short supply. Enter Pastor Blake—or Tartuffe—a charismatic man of God who rapidly secures Oga’s unwavering trust. As this mysterious houseguest settles in, old wounds reopen, loyalties are tested, and faith transforms into a battleground.
This version injects a raw, rhythmic pulse into the farce. Darren Raymond’s creative direction relies on rhyming couplets combined with spoken word poetry and music. According to Mark Rylance, early rehearsals have highlighted how the dynamic of a corrupt English missionary inside a contemporary African Caribbean family culture brings out the authentic cadence and revolutionary meaning of the play.
The staging brings together theatrical design. The creative team features Olivier Award-winning and Tony-nominated set and costume designer ULTZ, alongside lighting designer Simisola Majekodunmi, whose credits include Jaja’s African Hair Braiding and productions at the Lyric Hammersmith.
The Creative Partnership Driving Intermission Ensemble
The production is a mentorship milestone. Darren Raymond founded Intermission Youth in 2008, providing a safe space for over 8,000 young people aged 11 to 30+. For this run at the Marylebone Theatre, Raymond’s Intermission Ensemble—a professional company composed of youth program alumni—takes center stage alongside Mark Rylance.
Mark Rylance has noted that since 2009 he has adored Raymond’s productions of Shakespeare for his Intermission Youth theatre company. Alexander J Gifford, AD of the Marylebone Theatre, emphasized this relationship in official venue announcements, pointing out that Mark was born to play this role and will deliver another iconic stage-performance.
The cast features Intermission graduates and actors, including Sara Mokonen, Black British Theatre Award nominee Christopher Mbaki, and Morenike Onajobi. They are joined by Nakeba Buchanan, Craig Blake, Blanche Williams, and award-winning Sierra Leonean storyteller and actor Usifu Jalloh. This casting builds a bridge between a stalwart of the stage and the young talent he has spent years mentoring.
| Production Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Venue | Marylebone Theatre, London |
| Key Dates | Previews from Sept 4; Opens Sept 10; Closes Oct 24 |
| Creative Team | Written & Directed by Darren Raymond; Set/Costume by ULTZ; Lighting by Simisola Majekodunmi |
| Lead Cast | Mark Rylance, Sara Mokonen, Christopher Mbaki, Morenike Onajobi, Usifu Jalloh |
| Accessibility Initiative | 2,250+ tickets priced at £30 or under; regular £20 ticket lottery |
Accessibility and the Economics of West End Programming
As part of its commitment to affordability to ensure access for lower-income families and new theatre audiences, the venue has allocated over 2,250 tickets across the run priced at £30 and below—filling the equivalent of eight full houses. Furthermore, a dedicated lottery system releases a limited number of £20 seats for every single performance.
The production has partnered with dedicated schools, youth groups, and diverse community organisations to distribute heavily subsidised tickets for select performances.
As the curtain rises on September 4, Tartuffe (Remixed) stands poised to challenge how classic texts are adapted for multicultural Britain.
