Josephine and I

Josephine Baker: captivating performer, political activist and international icon, who lived from 1906 to 1975.

From the ragtime rhythms of St Louis and the intoxicating sounds of 1920s Paris, to present-day London, Josephine and I intertwines the story of a modern-day girl with that of one of the greatest, yet largely forgotten, stars of the twentieth century.

Cush Jumbo stars in the premiere of her debut play, which centres on the legendary American entertainer and her impact on a contemporary young woman. Live music combines with dance to bring to life the contemporary legacy of a woman Ernest Hemingway described as "the most sensational woman anyone ever saw, and ever will."

Autorentext

Cush Jumbo is a trained dancer and well known to children through her role as Lois Habiba in top-rated BBC One series Torchwood. She was nominated for an Olivier award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in the all-female Julius Caesar at the Donmar Warehouse, London. In Spring 2013, she appeared as Nora in A Doll's House at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. She co-wrote the musical Rebels and Retail, a shortlisted entrant in the Perfect Pitch West End Showcase 2008. Her one-woman show and playwriting debut, Josephine & I, was first performed at the Etcetera Theatre, Camden, before transferring to the Bush Theatre, London. Cush Jumbo is the co-author of 101 Dance Ideas for 5-11 Year Olds (A&C Black, 2010).