Things You Need to About Francesca Amewudah-Rivers: Who Faces Racism Co-starring with Tom Holland in Romeo and Juliet
In March, Jamie Lyod’s company in London announced that Romeo and Juliet, their upcoming theatre play, would star Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers. After that, the actress shared the news on her Instagram and she faced racist comments regarding the casting. Countless bitter comments started to spread online.
People took to Amewudah River’s Instagram page to troll her and make her feel antagonized. It got out of hand for the official Instagram page of Romeo and Juliet had turned off their comment box.
The Jamie Lloyd Company reacted to the harassing comment regarding the actress by releasing a strong statement. They indicated in the post that “This Must Stop”, and also emphasized that they are working with a group of remarkable artists, and they are free to create their work without online harassment. Also added that at all costs the protection and support will continue and will not tolerate the abuse.
The play, Romeo and Juliet directed by Janie Lloyd, decided to run from May 11 to August 3 at Duke of York’s Theatre in London. It is the first major theatre role of Tom Holland, after his debut in Billy Elliot: The Musical. The other cast included Freema Agyeman, Tomiwa Edun, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Michael Balogun, Mia Jerome, and Ray Sesay. As per reports, the production of the play is already sold out, and some rumors that after it ends in London, it heading to Broadway.
Over 800 actors signed a petition, including “Enola Holmes” star Susan Wokoma, “The Woman King” actor Sheila Atim, Marvel actress Lashana Lynch, and writer Somalia Nonyé Seaton, against racism and support Amewudah-Rivers.
About Francesca Amewudah-Rivers
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers is a British actor, writer, and musician. At Oxford University she got her Bachelor’s degree in Music. Also, she attended Great Britain’s National Theatre. She has worked with many theatres including the National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the Actors Touring Company.
She has co-written and composed the soundtrack of a short film in Medea in 2022. She also composed the soundtracks of Minutes and Messenger.
Amewudah-Rivers acted as the character of Blessing alongside Jack Whitehall in the BBC Comedy series Bad Education. She received an award for Audio Design from Evening Future Theatre Award in 2021.
She has appeared in MacBeth and Othello on stage in Shakespeare theatre production for the National Youth Theatre also she performed in Antigone, a Greek tragedy at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, in which The Guardian quoted her performance as “sensitively delivered”
In 2024, she got a casting call in the play Romeo and Juliet alongside Tom Holland. When it was announced she mentioned it as a “dream”. She also added that she was excited about the story with Holland, and welcomed the new audience.