We're thrilled that Rakie Ayola, winner of the 2021 BAFTA Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in TV drama Anthony, will be making her CFT debut this summer in Adrienne Kennedy's Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles?

Directed by Diyan Zora this autobiographical play - told in the form of a one-act, near-monologue to her son Adam - is a mesmerising tale of a young playwright trying to make her name in a new world. In Swinging '60s London Adrienne rubs shoulders with a dizzying array of celebrities and artists, including all four Beatles and her idol Laurence Olivier, while working to adapt John Lennon's book 'In His Own Write' for the stage. A dream come true it seems, but slowly the stars align in a different way.

Each performance will be followed by a documentary film exploring the true story behind the play as well as Adrienne's background, her influences and the impact of her work, including an interview with her son Adam P. Kennedy.

Rakie Ayola's many leading television roles also include The Pact, Grace, Shetland, No Offence and Holby City. Her recent theatre work includes On Bear Ridge for National Theatre Wales/Royal Court, for which she won the Black British Theatre Award for Best Actress, and Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the West End.

Read more about the production here.