Lauryn Ajufo leads the revival of Michaela Coel’s Chewing Gum Dreams

Lauryn Ajufo, the British actress who earned a British Independent Film Award nomination for “Boiling Point,” will play the role that first launched Michaela Coel’s career in an upcoming revival of Coel’s landmark semi-autobiographical one-woman debut play.

Originally developed by Coel as her final year show at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, ‘Chewing Gum Dreams’ was first performed publicly in 2012 at London’s The Yard Theater before transferring to The Shed at the National Theater in 2014. It would eventually form the basis of Coel’s TV breakthrough ‘Chewing Gum’.

In the revival at Theatre503 – a co-production with British African heritage theater company tiata fahodzi – Ajufo will play Tracey Gordon, a restricted, religious virgin, who wants to have sex and learn more about the world. The play is described as a “fierce, funny and big-hearted journey through first love, the last days of school and the moments that define who we become.”

This new production is directed by Theatre503’s award-winning Artistic Director Anthony Simpson-Pike, whose credits include the Olivier Award-winning ‘The P Word’, ‘Lava’ (nominated for Best Director at the Black British Theater Awards) and ‘Grenfell: in the Words of Survivors’ at the National Theater / St Anne’s Warehouse, New York.

“I am beyond excited to be part of the first British revival of the famous play ‘Chewing Gum Dreams,’” said Ajufo, also seen on screens in “Dreaming While Black,” “Luther: Fallen Son,” and as a lead in Netflix’s “Everything Now” and “Tell Me Everything.” “It is truly an honor to step into Michaela Coel’s shoes. I look forward to working with Anthony and the brilliant team at Theater503 to bring this beautiful piece of theater back to life. I can’t wait to see the magic unfold!”

Coel added: “Theatre503 was one of the early supporters of ‘Chewing Gum Dreams’ and highly praised the show during its first edition in 2012. It’s great to see the show returning to the UK for the first time and I’m excited about its opening. I wish their team the best of luck!”

The creative team of the “Chewing Gum Dreams” revival includes Yimei Zhao (“Porn Play”) as set and costume designer, Christopher Nairne (“The Real Ones”) as lighting designer, Xana (“Alterations”) as sound designer, Heather Basten CDG (“The Harder They Come”) as casting director and Theophilus O. Bailey (“For Black Boys…”) as motion director.

“We are thrilled to announce that Lauryn Ajufo will be taking on the iconic role of Tracey, so memorably introduced to the world by the incredible Michaela Coel,” said Simpson-Pike. “This is the first British production since the original and we couldn’t be prouder to be making it at Theatre503, with such a special actor. Lauryn’s talent deserves to be seen by all. And audiences are clearly keen to see this new version too, as today we’re also announcing an extension due to phenomenal demand.”

Chinonyerem Odimba, CEO and Artistic Director of tiata fahodzi, said: “This feels like an incredibly exciting collaboration with Theatre503, not only because it elevates an important play in the Black British canon, but also because it brings into sharp focus our shared belief that audiences are hungry for work that feels deeply human and highlights the possibility of what new playwriting can achieve. We can’t wait to share the production, its talents and Anthony’s vision for it.”

“Chewing Gum Dreams” can be seen at Theater503 from September 10 to October 3.