The Meaning Of Zong [Drama On 3]

Part of BBC Lights Up season, featuring plays from theatres that have gone dark during lockdown. Olivier Award winner Giles Terera stars in his own debut play about the notorious massacre aboard the slave ship Zong in 1781, and how uncovering its story galvanised the growing Abolition movement in the UK.

This collaboration between Bristol Old Vic and Jonx Productions brings to BBC Radio 3 an audio production of this inspirational new stage play, developed by Bristol Old Vic and the National Theatre, and directed by Tom Morris.

Olaudah Equiano (Gustavas Vassa) - .. Giles Terera

Granville Sharp - .. Samuel West

Ama/Rachel - .. Moronke Akinola

Riba/ Elijah - .. Gloria Obianyo,

Miss Greenwood/Joyi - .. Akiya Henry,

Ottobah Coguano/ Stubbs - .. Michael Balogun

Pigot /The Manager - .. Nikesh Patel

Lee/The Officer - .. Sule Rimi

James Kelsal/The Bishop - .. Paul Hickey

Lord Mansfield - .. Michael Bertenshaw.

The score was created by Jon Nicholls with Giles Terera, and the company with Amanda Wilkin.

Percussion - .. Sola Akingbola.

Sound design - Jon Nicholls

Director - .. Tom Morris

Producer - .. Jonquil Panting.

A Jonx Production for BBC Radio 3, in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic.

This play does include some historical racial language.

You can also join the cast and creative team of The Meaning of Zong live for a free online conversation about this production and how it was brought to life, on Wednesday 31st March from 8pm. This will be a forum for a full and frank discussion about the play, what it means to our society and the reasons for telling this story now. Sign up via the Bristol Old Vic website: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/the-meaning-of-zong-live-q-a

As part of BBC Lights Up, Olivier Award winner Giles Terera stars in his own debut play.

Recently starring as Othello at the National Theatre (as well as in Roy Williams's Death of England and an Oliver-winning Aaron Burr in Hamilton), Giles Terera's own first play also debuted at Bristol Old Vic last year, and continues to tour.

Starring Terera as Olaudah Equiano, it explores the notorious massacre aboard the slave ship Zong in 1781, and how uncovering its story galvanised the growing Abolition movement in the UK.

Radio 3's unique and award-winning audio version was the result of a collaboration between its star and author, Bristol Old Vic and Jonx Productions back in 2021, as work on new stage productions was halted across the country by lockdowns.

Developed by Bristol Old Vic and the National Theatre, The Meaning of Zong is directed for Radio 3 by Tom Morris.

Percussion, Sola Akingbola.

Sound design, Jon Nicholls

Director, Tom Morris

Producer, Jonquil Panting.

~Meaning Of Zong, The [drama On 3]