Ryan Calais Cameron's 'Retrograde' to transfer to the West End

Ryan Calais Cameron recently had success in the West End with two runs of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy.

Ryan Calais Cameron's Retrograde will transfer to the West End next March. His thriller about the actor and activist Sidney Poitier will open at the Apollo Theatre for a strictly limited run from 8 March to 14 June.

Calais Cameron recently had success in the West End with two runs of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy. Retrograde transfers to the Apollo from the Kiln Theatre and follows a young Sidney Poitier on the cusp of signing a career-defining Hollywood contract that could make him a star.

Directed by the Kiln Theatre’s Artistic Director Amit Sharma, Retrograde will see Ivanno Jeremiah (Constellations, Donmar Warehouse and West End; Humans, Channel 4) reprise the role of Sidney Poitier, with Stanley Townsend (Kaos, Netflix; The Normal Heart, National Theatre) as Mr Parks and Oliver Johnstone (Antigone, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre; All My Sons, The Old Vic) as writer Bobby.

Ryan Calais Cameron said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to see Retrograde take its next step onto the West End stage. This play holds a deeply personal resonance for me as a writer. Sidney Poitier’s journey — his courage, conviction, and the weight of the choices he faced — is not just his story; it’s a reflection of the challenges and dilemmas many of us still navigate today. I can’t wait for audiences at the Apollo Theatre to join us in this moment of reflection, urgency, and ultimately, celebration.”

Ivanno Jeremiah said, “It's an honour to share this work in the West End at the Apollo Theatre, paying tribute to the Titans of Hollywood's Golden Era. Ryan Calais Cameron's imaginative portrayal of the 1950s, based on real events, ignites intelligent debate, questioning morality, ambition, and integrity amidst wealth—from a 1955 NBC corner office to today's world. It challenges us to consider the limits we may not cross."

Stanley Townsend said, “With morals and ethics on the ropes, and a man’s life in the balance: Retrograde is a Runyonesque rollercoaster with a ticking time bomb on board.”

Oliver Johnstone said, “Retrograde is one of the best new plays I’ve read in a long time. Ryan’s writing is electric. So I’m excited to be working on it alongside two actors whom I greatly admire and an incredibly talented creative team.”

Amit Sharma said, “I’m incredibly proud that Retrograde transfers from a sold out run at Kiln Theatre to the West End’s Apollo Theatre. When I first read Ryan Calais Cameron’s vital new play, I knew its themes were as relevant today as the era in which the play is set; centring around the iconic Sidney Poitier and the Golden Age of Hollywood, it’s a tale full of twists and turns. A magnificent and essential story that audiences will now have another opportunity to experience.”

The rest of the creative team includes Frankie Bradshaw (Set and Costume Designer), Amy Mae (Lighting Designer), and Beth Duke (Sound Designer).

Check back for Retrograde tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Oliver Johnstone, Ivanno Jeremiah, and Stanley Townsend. (Photos courtesy of production).