Meet the dynamic dramatic arts company from Sheffield ahead of the London debut of their powerful one-man performance.
Next month, Roots Mbili will be landing at Brixton House for the London debut of Far Gone, the “captivating and powerful” (The Guardian) one-man performance, written and performed by John Rwothomack and directed by Mojisola Kareem, tracing a young boy’s journey from innocence to survival, and forcing us to question what it takes to hold onto humanity in the face of violence.
Returning to stages after its critically acclaimed national tour in 2022 co-produced by Sheffield Theatres, and a 2025 world tour that took the show to audiences in the USA, Taiwan and South Africa; Far Gone had its inception back in 2019 in Sheffield, where the company is based.
Check out what previous audiences had to say about the raw, poetic, and deeply human storytelling that transcends borders:
“EVERY STORY MATTERS, EVERY STORY MUST BE HEARD”
John Rwothomack, Artistic Director
The company is the brainchild of John Rwothomack, an actor, director, and writer supported by Digital Director, Smart Banda and Creative Producer, Sam Holland.
They then worked together on Far Gone at Theatre Deli and it’s subsequent performances at Sheffield Theatres and the Kampala International Theatre Festival in Uganda. These foundations have been crucial in realising their shared vision for Roots Mbili Theatre and the enormous potential of its impact on the global stage.
They started collaborating in 2018 on the show Bad Blood Blues, exploring western exploitation of African nations and people, themes that paved the way for their commitment to unflinching and honest theatre that doesn’t shy away from exposing ugly societal truths while representing marginalised voices.
Their work is primarily concerned with platforming stories from Africa and it’s diaspora in the UK, merging culturally distinct storytelling styles in order to create unique and challenging theatre which will have an enduring impact on audiences from both cultures.
Their vision is to establish a collaborative network between UK & East African theatre industries.
- Forging a network of theatre makers, artists and industry professionals specifically from the UK and East Africa, but also globally to collaborate on projects which merge traditional storytelling methods.
- Building an education programme that guides and supports the makers of tomorrow.
- Facilitating workshops in communities traditionally marginalised by the arts to improve access to the theatre and the arts.
They believe in the power of expression and the right of all people from all backgrounds to be given a stage to represent their culture, identity and message.
Theatre and art has the power to enact social change. Roots Mbili believe in creating work that stays with audiences long after they have left the theatre, that alters their preconceptions and moves them into positive action.
Artists should create work beyond their comfort zone, working with practitioners from vastly different walks of life, contrasting artistic practices and belief systems contrary to our own, as well as devising collaborative and bold work that takes risks and challenges the status quo.
Join us next month for the London debut of Far Gone, inspired by Rwothomack’s own near experience of abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Far Gone is the profoundly moving story of a young boy’s journey from childhood innocence to child soldier. Told with humour, poetry and startling physical theatre, it explores how conflict reshapes identity, family and belonging, and is a must-see cultural and political piece of theatre that will strike straight at the heart.
“This play is not about me, the kid who was lucky enough to escape. This play is for the hundred of thousands who did not. For the future generations who will continue to suffer the trauma the LRA has imprinted on them, for many years to come”
John Rwothomack, Artistic Director