Steven Kavuma and the Brit Boys, in partnership with Kickers and in association with The BRIT School, today announce Classroom Chronicles — a new play about Black boyhood, friendship and freedom which will play at the National Youth Theatre on Holloway Road for one night only on Thursday 29 October 2026 at 7pm.
Devised by the company and directed by Steven Kavuma in collaboration with Lorraine Woodley-Bitmead, the production marks the stage debut of the Brit Boys, a collective of emerging Black actors who met on the Musical Theatre course at The BRIT School.
Classroom Chronicles turns the isolation room — a space usually associated with punishment and exclusion into a place of refuge, comedy and self-invention. Black Caribbean and Black African boys remain among the most excluded groups in English schools, and the play sets that statistic aside to ask a simpler question: what do these boys talk about when no adult is listening? The result is a portrait of four friends who are funny, tender, complicated and whole.
The company first developed the piece at the Global Majority Showcase at The BRIT School, curated by Lorraine Woodley-Bitmead, where it was seen by director Steven Kavuma and producer Moesha Francis.
Four Black boys. One isolation room. The year before the exams that decide everything. Ahmed, Marfo, Olanrewaju and Zachary turn four walls into somewhere they can finally be soft, silly, scared and entirely themselves. Away from the teachers and the classmates who have already written them off, they dream, argue, joke and imagine their way towards a version of the future that belongs to them.
Director Steven Kavuma said: “I’m excited to be bringing Classroom Chronicles to life in partnership with Kickers and in association with The BRIT School. Collaborating with Lorraine Woodley-Bitmead and this incredible cast has been an absolute joy. I can’t wait for audiences to experience this play. “This is a celebration of Black boy joy, friendship and freedom. Away from the teachers and the kids who’ve already written them off, these boys can be anything. They can dream anything. That’s the world this play lets
us into, where we get to see them as funny, tender, complicated, whole, and with every right to take up
space.”
Molly Mcgarry, Brand Manager at Kickers, said: “The Brit Boys embody the energy, talent and individuality we want to champion. As a brand rooted in UK school culture, Kickers believes that uniform should be a platform where self-expression starts. We’re incredibly proud to support this collective of emerging Black actors as they bring their debut play, Classroom Chronicles, to the stage, tell their stories in their own way and establish themselves as part of the next generation of British creative icons.”
Movement Director and co-dramaturge Lorraine Woodley-Bitmead said: “The BRIT Boys embody joy. They have filled our corridors and school community with their amazing energy, creativity and love from the moment they met each other at BRIT. When they first created their piece for the Global Majority Showcase, it already felt special, embodying everything that night’s about: sharing stories that are true to our identities. To get to witness and be involved in the development and creative process of turning this piece into the Classroom Chronicles alongside Steven Kavuma and the BRIT Boys has been both a pleasure and incredibly inspiring. This play is something very special, it captures the beauty, bravery and boldness of Black Boys. I can’t wait to see where it takes them.”
Stuart Worden, Principal at The BRIT School, said: “Classroom Chronicles is a brilliant piece of work, but what I love about it most is that it’s a direct result of the BRIT Boys’ relentless hustle. Not only did they take up the opportunity to create a powerful piece of art for this year’s Global Majority Show but then they jumped at a chance to step it up to a whole new level. They saw the brilliant Steven sitting in the
audience and had the initiative to approach him directly to pitch their vision. Now, just a few months later, that 14 minute piece is a full-length play that they’ve co-created, they’re starring in and has even secured the backing of an iconic brand in Kickers. It’s incredible.”
They’ve turned the platforms and connections around them into something of their own. That’s exactly the kind of bravery and determination we need to see in the next generation of artists and the boys are showing everyone where it can take you.”
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
The cast is: Mahmood Akinsemoyin as Olanrewaju, Frederick Konneh as Ahmed, Nana Peprah-Mensah
as Marfo, and Kyan Rowe as Zachary. Classroom Chronicles is devised by the company and directed and co-dramaturged by Steven Kavuma, with collaborator, movement director and co-dramaturge Lorraine Woodley-Bitmead, musical director Ty Lowe, sound designer Marie Zschommler, costume designer and stylist Maame Atuah, and co-producer Moesha Francis.
NEED TO KNOW: Tickets are £5 and go on sale Thursday 10 September.
