Assata Taught Me, the first major revival since 2017, written and directed by Kalungi Ssebandeke, takes audiences on a passionate and reflective journey. The play follows a fictional story where the iconic Assata Shakur (Susan Lawson), still living in exile in Cuba, is approached by 21-year-old Fanuco Maceo (Ebenezer Gyau), a young man eager to pursue the American Dream.
The two-hander unfolds through a series of lessons inside Assata’s home, where she helps Fanuco write an essay for class about his desire to move to the US. What begins as a simple mentoring dynamic slowly develops into something far more layered, as the pair challenge each other’s beliefs surrounding ambition, freedom and responsibility.
Fanuco’s youthful eagerness, paired with a sense of naivety, creates an engaging performance filled with perfectly timed comedy. In contrast, Assata’s reflective and deeply considered insight into the values and sacrifices behind her life journey grounds the play with emotional weight. Together, their dynamic immediately pulls the audience in, balancing humour with genuine moments of vulnerability. As the lessons continue, tension beneath their opposing worldviews gradually rises, revealing the emotional complexity of both characters.
Susan Lawson delivers Assata with quiet authority and emotional depth, balancing warmth with firmness as she reflects on her past and the sacrifices tied to it. Ebenezer Gyau brings charisma and vulnerability to Fanuco, capturing both his youthful optimism and growing uncertainty with ease. This chemistry feels natural throughout, allowing the production’s quieter emotional moments to land just as strongly as its comedic ones.
Ssebandeke’s writing is layered and thoughtful, creating beautiful tension between the clashing perspectives of the two characters. Music and dance are incorporated in ways that transport audiences to Cuba and Africa, while also building an ancestral intimacy between the pair. The production highlights the close-knit connection of the diaspora, adding warmth, rhythm and vibrancy to the storytelling without ever feeling forced.
The set design by Bolu Dairo feels deeply homely, bringing a warmth often associated with tropical climates and grounding the production in comfort and familiarity. Combined with the lighting and musical transitions, the intimate staging fully immerses audiences into Assata’s world and strengthens the emotional atmosphere of the piece.
The tone throughout is warm, funny, reflective and passionate, provoking questions that remain ever pertinent, both during Assata’s time as a Black Panther and today. Sharp political commentary is often met with knowing laughter and murmurs across the audience, while quieter scenes leave the room completely still in reflection.
The plot builds steadily through each lesson before culminating in a major decision Fanuco must make, keeping audiences gripped until the very end. By the final scene, the production shifts from playful debate into something deeply moving, leaving audiences questioning the future of both characters, but also their own relationship to ambition, migration and responsibility. Ultimately, Assata Taught Me asks whether the choices we make for ourselves and our family truly contribute to the collective liberation, or simply sustain the systems already in place. Hurry this is a short run….
Assata is running at Riverside Studios till the 24th May. Get tickets here! Written by Mayan Sekibo
