The National Theatre of Scotland have announced that their politically urgent new play Exodus is set to premiere at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2022, before touring across Scotland this autumn, as well as announcing the cast that will be bringing the play to the stage.

Bold, incisive and outrageous, Uma Nada-Rajah’s new playExodus about politicians and posturing, satirically exposes systematic deception and indifference to human suffering.     

Directed by the National Theatre of Scotland’s Associate Director Debbie Hannan, Exodusis a dark, surreal comedy, ready to shamelessly ridicule the systems of power.   

In her bid to become the country’s leader, Home Secretary Asiya Rao prepares to make a major policy announcement that will establish her as the front-runner of the political race. Alongside her cut-throat and calculating advisor Phoebe, she embarks on a publicity stunt starting with a photo shoot by the white cliffs of Dover. But rather than the tide washing her reputation clean, something else washes up… An omen or an opportunity? The women are determined to keep their eyes on the prize, no matter the cost, even if it’s a human one.     

Asiya Rao, the Home Secretary, is played by Aryana Ramkhalawon. Aryana is known for her stage and TV work including GHBoy (Charing Cross Theatre), When the Crows Visit (Kiln Theatre) and The Funeral Director (English Touring Theatre) and Call the Midwife. She was last seen on Scotland’s stages in the musical Glasgow Girls.   

Phoebe Bernays, the Home Secretary’s Special Advisor, is played by Sophie Steer. Alongside TV and film roles, Sophie’s recent stage appearances include Civilisation (Edinburgh Fringe, Home and New Diorama), Where Do We Go Next (Bunker Theatre) and Gobble Gobble Goblin (Old Vic).    

Anna Russell-Martin plays the role of young journalist Tobi Tucker. Anna has previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland on the film Ghost Light and on stage with Jenni Fagan’s Panopticon. The final cast member is Habiba Saleh, playing the part of Haben Haile, a performer, trained in opera. Habiba makes her professional debut in Exodus and returns to the Scottish stage following her role in Uma Nada-Rajah’s Magical Plastic Chicken with Golden Trailer Collective at The Hidden Door Festival.  

Exodussees the National Theatre of Scotland make a welcome return to the Fringe following a celebrated presence over the last sixteen years (Black Watch, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, Adam).   The play will preview at Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling ahead of it’s opening at the Fringe, before visiting Eastgate Theatre in Peebles; An Lanntair in Stornoway; CentreStage in Kilmarnock; Lemon Tree in Aberdeen; Tron Theatre in Glasgow and Mull Theatre.

For more information, including performance dates and tickets, click here.