Romeo and Juliet-style romance Noughts & Crosses is coming to the Playhouse next month

Noughts & Crosses, an exciting adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s hit novel will be presented at Liverpool Playhouse from 22 – 26 November 2022 by the highly acclaimed Pilot Theatre.

Adapted by Sabrina Mahfouz, Noughts & Crosses is a Romeo and Juliet-style romance but portrays an alternative society where the black population (the Crosses) is the upper class, and the white population (the Noughts) is the lower class.

In this thought-provoking 120 minutes of captivating viewing, the theme of racial injustice is prominently presented throughout the play.

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman is one of the UK’s best-loved books for young adults. It explores forbidden love, racial segregation, and what it means to grow up in a divided world, with a storyline that revolves around racial inequality.

The adaptor Sabrina Mahfouz said:

“It’s brilliant that this play will go back on stages across the country and get people of all ages talking about racism, love, the power of youth, injustice, and all the issues Malorie Blackman’s story brings to the forefront of her characters’ lives.”

Sephy is played by Effie Anash (The Maladies, Almeida Theatre, and Manor, National Theatre), and Callum is played by James Arden (So Here We Are, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch). The cast also includes Emma Keele, an actress from Liverpool with extensive experience in theatre, film, and television such asCoronation Street and Downton Abbey (Both ITV) playing Meggie and Ensemble. Tom Coleman is another local emerging actor playing Noughts Man and Andrew Dorn. He is looking forward to making his professional debut in his hometown.

Alongside actor Daniel Copeland who has appeared with Ricky Gervais in After Life, as well as in the BBC series King Gary, Wurzel Gummidge, Starstruck with Rose Matafeo. Adapted by Sabrina Mahfouz who dramatized this political satire and love story in a 120-minute long tension-filled live theatre performance. Directed by Pilot Theatre’s Artistic Director Esther Richardson.

Noughts & Crosses is a game that reflects a real world in which once you join the game you must learn to play well or you will be eliminated. In this game of racial inequality, in the end, both sides lose and no one wins. Just like Sephy and Callum have been friends since early childhood, they are fated to be bitter enemies and love is out of the question.

Setting scenes in an alternative Britain based on Malorie Blackman’s clever and gripping words. Noughts & Crosses is a work that makes us aware of the dangers of speaking up and witnessing tragedy across boundaries.

Noughts & Crosses first toured in 2019 and now comes to the Playhouse for one week only as part of a national tour.

Tickets priced £10 to £30 are now available from the Everyman & Playhouse Theatres website here.