A Peep into the RSC's Driftwood rehearsals

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Cat White as Ruby and Martins Imhangbe as Diamond. Photo by Marc Brenner.

Driftwood by Martina Laird. At The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, from Friday 17 April to Saturday 30 May 2026. The transferring to Kiln Theatre, London from Wednesday 3 June. Director Justin Audibert.

Preview

Rehearsal images have been released for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), in association with Kiln Theatre, for the world premiere of Driftwood, a powerful new play by Martina Laird.

Set in 1950s colonial Trinidad on the brink of political independence, Driftwood is a richly atmospheric exploration of self-determination, family and belonging, capturing a community alive with change, tension and possibility.

Writer Martina Laird. Photo by Marc Brenner.

“dis is my home. My whole life. My history here. And de only future I go have is here.”

As colonial Trinidad advances towards political independence, a downtown Port of Spain gentlemen’s club becomes entangled in a different kind of custody battle.

Ziggy Heath at Tom. Photo by Marc Brenner.

ALMA promises its guests a comfortable environment to relax and indulge. Owned by Englishman Mansion, it's governed by Pearl and coveted by beguiling Ruby. Then Diamond drifts in. His impetuous deal with a corrupt US Marine imperils ALMA, and all their lives are collateral damage. One wrong move and everything could shatter.

Shane David-Joseph as Seldom and Cat White as Ruby. Photo by Marc Brenner.

The full cast comprises: Shane David-Joseph (Seldom); Ziggy Heath (Tom); Martins Imhangbe (Diamond); Roger Ringrose (Mansion); Ellen Thomas (Pearl); and Cat White (Ruby).

The creative team includes: Director Justin Audibert; Set and Costume Designer Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey; Lighting Designer Simon Spencer; Composer Christella Litras; Sound Designer Tony Gayle; Movement Director Kloé Dean; Dramaturg Sebastian Born; Casting Director Matthew Dewsbury CDG.

Roger Ringrose as Mansion and Ellen Thomas as Pearl. Photo by Marc Brenner.

Driftwood is the first play by Martina Laird. Directed by Chichester Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Justin Audibert and set in 1950s Caribbean, it’s a deeply evocative story of self-determination and the search for family and belonging.

For more information and tickets: https://www.rsc.org.uk/driftwood