Canoe Theatre will be staging blue/ orange at Sherman Theatre from 21-23 January which was originally created by Joe Penhall for the National Theatre over 10 years ago.

Blue/ Orange is a darkly funny contemporary drama that throws race, mental health, and institutional politics into the melting pot with startling and surprising consequences. Even though it was written at the beginning of the new Millennium the play still resonates with the current politics of today.

This contemporary dark comedy follows the story of Christopher (played by Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama student, Simon Mokhele) who has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. He is due to be released back in to the community but with a failing NHS, two doctors come head to head to decide on the fate of a young man who could well be the illegitimate son of an African dictator.

The original blue / orange production by the National Theatre featured Bill Nighy and Andrew Lincoln (from This Life, The Waking Dead) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots, American Gangster, Salt) as Christopher.

Over 10 years later, director of this version of Blue/Orange, Julia Thomas said:

“It is honest, funny and well observed. It makes you think but also makes you laugh. It is a contemporary classic that will resonate deeply with audiences.”

This will be Simon’s first professional stage debut as he is still a student at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Simon who is originally from South Africa, moved to Salford when he was ten years old. Simon was awarded the Laurence Olivier Bursary to study at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Starring alongside Simon are established actors Craig Pinder (The recent National Tour of High Society and English Theatre of Hamburg’s The Subject Was Roses)and Swansea’s Matthew Bulgo (Sherman Cymru’s The Sleeping Beauties, A Christmas Carol, Clytemnestra; Traverse Theatre/ WMC’s I’m With The Band; National Theatre Wales’s Praxis Makes Perfect and Mappa Mundi’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Dangerous Liaisons).

This will be the first production by Cardiff based theatre company, Canoe Theatre.

Canoe theatre has been established to give audiences the experience of great plays from around the world recognising a global and multicultural Society at the heart of the work created.

Blue/ Orange will be at Sherman Theatre from 21-23 January, 8pm. Matinee 23 January. Suitable for ages 14+

For full details and listings of shows please visit www.shermancymru.co.uk or contact Sherman Cymru’s Ticket Office on 029 2064 6900