Open Works Festival presents: In conversation with David Greig and John Rwothomack.
Join actor and playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, playwright and theatre director David Greig and Artistic director of Roots Mbili Theatre John Rwothomack in conversation.
Lolita Chakrabarti(Vigil, Silo) is best known to Sheffield audience for her theatrical adaptation of the smash-hit Life of Pi which went on to win multiple awards and enjoyed an extended run in the West End.
David Greig(Two Sisters, Adventures with Painted People, The Events) has most recently adapted One Day into a musical performed in 2026 at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, where he was Artistic Director between 2016 and 2025. In 2023 he published his first novel, Columba’s Bones.
John Rwothomack(Far Gone, Kubulaya – Away from Home, Lines) brings African stories, culture, and history to the forefront of theatre. In 2027, Roots Mbili Theatre’s Never Look Back will premiere in the Crucible Theatre, in a co-production with Sheffield Theatres as well as bringing Seven Magic Birds an African Panto to Open Works as a work in progress event.
Lolita Chakrabarti OBE is an award-winning playwright and acclaimed actress, trained at RADA, with a career spanning across stage and screen. Her adaptation of the Booker Prize-winning Life of Pi won the Olivier Award for Best New Play and went on to achieve international success, including Broadway, three Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards. Her adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet enjoyed a sold-out RSC and transferred to London’s West End. Her original play Hymn opened during covid to strong reviews. Her debut play, Red Velvet, won multiple awards and is now widely studied internationally. Her screen credits as an actor include Vigil, Showtrial, The Wheel of Time, Criminal and Screw.
Event description by organisers.
- Featured in
- Black History Month in Sheffield
