Ivanno Jeremiah is a British-Ugandan actor and writer who has appeared in a range of theatre, films, and television. His theatre credits include The Suit, Peter Brook’s Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord Tour; The Convert (Young Vic), Truth and Reconciliation (Royal Court), A Soldier’s Tale (City of London Sinfonia), Measure for Measure (Young Vic), The Nether (Royal Court), Julius Caesar (RSC). His television credits include A Discovery of Witches, Cold Feet, Counterpart, Humans, Doctor Who, Black Mirror: Shut Up and Dance, The Jury, Injustice, Enterprice and The Hollow Crown. He has also appeared in films including The Flood, The Veteran, No More Wings and Bees Make Honey.
1. Name One thing has lockdown taught you about you?
How to play Robert Nestor Marley’s Redemption Song on guitar. Lots of redemption song.
Among other things creating time for guitar playing, fitness, family, meditation, professional work & personal study meant that most of my days were actually flying by. I think the time away from the rat race was a well needed introspection after a couple of difficult years, in this game I have learned that unless you create and protect your own mind space and time it can be pretty unforgiving.
2 Tell us about your character and how it resonates with you?
Roland is an urban Beekeeper who meets Marianne an Astrophysicist, played by the magnificent Sheila Atim in my case, at a mutual friends BBQ. They are in their early thirties, black, single and despite having found their feet in the world professionally, have somehow lacked fortune in matters of love.
In Constellations, Nick Payne has written a charming, bittersweet observation of the unlimited potential outcomes of stepping into life’s uncharted waters and what co-existence means today.
3. What does it feel like to be back on stage with an audience?
We open on June 18th – August 1st, a short run but I’m very excited to share our interpretation of this firecracker of a play.
4. Do you think digital theatre compensates well enough or is there no substitute for a live audience?
The very particular communion of Theatre and the unique experience of being in the stalls at one of our many fantastic venues are very difficult things to recreate exactly. However, any move to widen and diversify our audiences gets my full support.
5. What do you like most about the story?
The format of the story is its genius and speaks to the importance of how one word, a hesitation, something forgotten or remembered can change the course of the entire relationship. Through the multiverse, this play creates we get to see a lot of these reductions and expansions unfold. Heart-breaking stuff at times
6. What are you working in next?
Going back to screen. Ain’t nuttin going on but the rent!
About the show:
Donmar Warehouse, Wessex Grove and Eleanor Lloyd Productions Eilene Davidson, Gavin Kalin Productions, Grand Cru Consulting Ltd, Rupert Gavin/Mallory Factor
In association with Nica Burns for Nimax present The Royal Court Theatre Production of
CONSTELLATIONS
by Nick Payne
directed by Michael Longhurst
Four new casts. One relationship. Infinite Possibilities
‘One drink. And if you never want to see me again you never have to see me again.’
A quantum physicist and a beekeeper meet at a barbeque. They hit it off, or perhaps they don’t. They go home together, or maybe they go their separate ways. In the multiverse, with every possible future ahead of them, a love of honey could make all the difference.
This summer Nick Payne‘s beautiful and heart breaking romance CONSTELLATIONS is revived in the West End with a twist: four different casts take turns to journey through the multiverse and the infinite possibilities of a relationship; each refracting the play afresh. Starring Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah (18 June – 1 August), Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker (23 June – 24 July), Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey (30 July – 11 September), and Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O’Dowd (6 August – 12 September).
Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Longhurst returns to direct his Royal Court, West End and Broadway hit which received international acclaim and won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play and the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Design. BOOK HERE
