Royal Court Theatre today announces The Afronauts writer Ryan Calais Cameron (For Black Boys…, Retrograde) and Monique Touko (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Marie and Rosetta), two of the most exciting theatremakers in Britain today, as co-directors of the World Premiere play. The Afronauts marks the finale of the Royal Court Theatre’s 70th anniversary, and runs from Saturday 14 November until Saturday 19 December 2026.
The news comes as the Royal Court was last week awarded a Gold Award as part of the 2026 Chelsea in Bloom flower festival. Monique and Ryan are pictured alongside the winning floral arrangement which was created by Moyses Stevens. Celebrating The Afronauts, the display featured a life-size astronaut rising from Sloane Square amid a facade of African and Tropical flowers, embodying this year’s ‘Out of This World’ theme.
Zambia, 1964: the space race has a new contender. As the world’s great powers set their sights on the moon, a schoolteacher gathers a group of misfit dreamers and trains them for lift-off. The Afronauts tells the true(ish) story of the Zambian Space Program, and a nation’s defiant dream to reach for the stars.
Monique Touko was last at the Royal Court Theatre for World Premiere sold-out play G by Tife Kusoro and Ryan Calais Cameron is as Associate Playwright at the Royal Court, following recent West End run Retrograde.
Genesis Next Generation at The Royal Court – A Genesis Foundation Project.
NEED TO KNOW:
- Afronauts plays at the Royal Court from 14 Nov to 19 Dec 2026 | See listing
- ROYAL COURT THEATRE ANNOUNCES 70TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
