Royal Court Theatre and Nica Burns announce full cast for world premiere of The Afronauts by Ryan Calais Cameron

The Royal Court Theatre and Nica Burns announce the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of The Afronauts, a Zambian space race epic by award-winning writer Ryan Calais Cameron (For Black Boys..., Retrograde) who will co-direct with Monique Touko (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Marie and Rosetta). 

The Afronauts marks the finale of the Royal Court Theatre’s 70th anniversary Downstairs season, and will run from Saturday 14 November to Saturday 19 December, with press night on Monday 23 November 2026. The cast was first revealed last night at a special launch party event hosted by the Royal Court in collaboration with The Rendition.

The international cast brings together Black British and Black African talent led by television, film and stage star Lucian Msamati (Game of Thrones, Slow Horses, Conclave, Waiting for Godot) as Edward, and Ama Qamata, seen in leading roles in the Netflix series Blood & Water and the multi-award-winning indie hit Fight Like a Girl, who will be making her UK stage debut as Matha. The company is completed by Ivanno Jeremiah, who reunites with Ryan Calais Cameron following his critically acclaimed performance as Sidney Poitier in Retrograde and will play Simon, Chomba S. Taulo (The Book of Mormon) as Ben, Munashe Chirisa (The Play That Goes Wrong) as Cheelo, Pamela Nomvete (Skeleton Crew) as Grace, Lukwesa Mwamba (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) as Liji, and Prince Kundai (Bootycandy) as David.

The creative team includes Set Designer Soutra Gilmour, Costume Designer Kinnetia Isidore, Lighting Designer Ryan Day, Composer and Sound Designer Khalil Madovi, Video Designer Dick Straker, Movement Director Kloé Dean, Wigs, Hair and Makeup Designer Cynthia De La Rosa, Casting Director Heather Basten CDG CSA, Dramaturg Gillian Greer, Cultural Dramaturg Mwansa Phiri and Assistant Director Danielle Kassaraté.

Click here to read the full press release.

Image of The Afronauts company at the cast announcement event hosted at Rich Mix by the Royal Court and The Reniditon, taken by Minji Suh.