Romeo Must Die

1st June - 2nd June

About the show
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About the show

Set in Manchester, 2007, Romeo Must Die follows six black teens navigating highs and lows of secondary school life. Loyalty begins to stand the test of time in a tight-knit friendship built on shared struggle, the secrets simmer beneath the surface. When tensions build the teens land at a party where the rivalry of schools and postcodes becomes the topic. The friends are faced with the dilemma of their lives. Friendships are tested, allegiances shift, and the question of loyalty within the community is thrown into focus.

Whether it’s young love, racial politics, or convoluted dynamics, ultimately, Romeo Must Die.

Creatives:

Director – Gloria Akpoke

Writer – Gloria Akpoke

Co-Producer – Mya Onwugbonu

Co-Producer – Joshua Aketse-Entsie

Assistant Producer – Jessica Fowler

Co-Movement Director – Selorm Adonu

Co-Movement Director – Gloria Akpoke

Technical Designer – Atlanta Sonson-Chapman

Head of Video and Photo Production – Luiis Rouf

About the Creatives:

Gloria Akpoke – WRITER/DIRECTOR

Gloria Akpoke is a multidisciplinary creative whose artistic vision reflects the world around her. As a director, she challenges and disrupts preconceptions about what it means to be human; a reflection of her recently sold-out work ‘Grifting’ by Kwesi Sekyi.

With a diverse background in acting, writing, movement, and directing, she brings emotional depth to her storytelling. Gloria is a director with a clear vision and a proven ability to execute it.

Mya Onwugbonu – CO-PRODUCER

Mya Onwugbonu is a multi-disciplinary, multi-award-winning creative supporting new writing across development, touring, and international presentation. Her producing credits include the London transfer and UK development of Na-keisha Pebody’s LEI-LDN (Theatre503, Curve Leicester, Seven Dials Playhouse, Edinburgh Fringe at The Pleasance), Jerome Scott’s touring production Do You Want Something to Cry For (Omnibus Theatre, Theatre Peckham, 96 Festival), and the international premiere of Connie Harris’s BABY BABY BABY at the San Diego International Fringe Festival.

Joshua Aketse-Entsie – CO-PRODUCER

Joshua Aketse-Entsie is a London-based theatre producer of Ghanaian and Swedish heritage whose work centres bold, socially engaged storytelling. He produced the sold-out play Brother’s Keeper at Theatre Peckham and co-produced one of the venue’s Young, Gifted and Black season. Joshua trained on the National Theatre’s Producing Course and worked as Outreach Coordinator on Hot Wing King and Bacchae. He is also co-founder of House of Vox, a collective supporting artists through poetry, performance, and community engagement.

Jessica Fowler – ASSISTANT PRODUCER

Jessica Fowler is an actor and the founder and producer of Deptford Scratch, a sell-out scratch night with a unique model built not only to platform new work but to ensure lasting connections between all creatives involved. Producing Deptford Scratch lit her passion for supporting and championing the work of other talented creatives. Jessica is excited to be working on this production and for the opportunity to help bring this incredible project to life.

Selorm Adonu – CO-MOVEMENT DIRECTOR

Selorm Adonu is an award-winning writer, actor, producer, and movement director based in South London. His work spans Paramount+’s CURFEW, Idris Elba’s Knives Down campaign, and Theatre Peckham’s Brother’s Keeper, where movement shaped the storytelling. Through XVI STUDIOS, Selorm creates projects that combine physical storytelling with community engagement and meaningful narratives.

Atlanta Sonson-Chapman – TECHNICAL DESIGNER

Atlanta Sonson-Chapman is a multidisciplinary theatre designer and technician working across lighting, sound and video. Her practice combines technical precision with creative storytelling, supporting productions from concept to performance. Alongside designing, Atlanta mentors emerging technicians and young creatives, sharing practical knowledge and encouraging new voices within technical theatre. Atlanta enjoys collaborating with artists to build imaginative stage worlds while ensuring productions run smoothly and safely.

fuoria* – HEAD OF VIDEO AND PHOTO PRODUCTION

Fuoria* Is a production service company which focuses on perspective, provocation, and essence. Having started in April 2025, They have worked with the likes of great artists from: award winning directors, studying writers, great practitioners and workshops and upcoming actors staring in the next big IP’s. From headshots, portraits and personal promotion, to producing and bringing teams for creative shoots and media, fuoria* collaborate with a plethora of artists.

Bud Potter – SET DESIGNER

Bud Potter is a writer, actor, clown and set/puppet maker from Devon. Graduating from East 15’s CT course last year, Bud’s passion is to work on the sincere as much as the silly, and to make work that is as sustainable and meaningful as possible.

Marli Hart – FIGHT/INTIMACY CO-ORDINATOR

Marli Hart is an actor, fight director and creative practitioner trained in classical performance, Method techniques and stage/screen combat. A National Youth Theatre alumna, she studied Theatre and Creative Media Production at The BRIT School and is currently a Level 3 student and Assistant Coach at Method Campus, alongside training and assisting on BASSC courses with ID Fight. Her work spans performance, writing and combat direction across stage and screen. Recent credits include Fight Director for Seize The Day (Tower Theatre); performer and co-writer for Talawa Theatre Company’s What I Hear, I Keep; and acting roles in Extraordinary (Hulu) and Horrible Histories (BBC). Upcoming screen work includes a lead role in an independent feature film and a short-form combat project. Alongside her creative work, Marli has also worked in stunt performance and production support across television and film.

Isha Bah – STAGE MANAGER
Isha is a multidisciplinary artist based in London, who has worked in roles such as producing and directing in film and stage management and lighting in theatre. With both knowledge in theatre and film, Isha possesses skills in creative collaborations, organization, scheduling, and time management. Her most recent theatre credit was Assistant Stage Manager on National Youth Theatre’s Dracula (2026) She is also the founder of Innovation FilmWorks, an independent film production company that uses the art of filmmaking to engage, motivate and educate audiences.

Running time: 85 mins

Age Guidance: 16+

Content Awareness: Strong language, depiction of gang violence and knife crime, and emotionally intense scenes related to grief, conflict, and loss.

For full performance dates and times, please press ‘Book’ above.

This performance takes place in the fifth year of Peckham Fringe Festival, and the 40th Anniversary year of Theatre Peckham. Click here to see the full programme for this year’s Peckham Fringe.

Your Stage, Your Story. #TP40