Award-winning Durham-based Elysium Theatre Company is heading to London

Following its highly successful and critically acclaimed tour of the Northeast and Northwest last year, leading Durham based theatre company, Elysium TC, is delighted to announce the London Premiere of its critically acclaimed production of THE MOTH.

Performing at the Finborough Theatre in London’s Earl’s Court from 27 October to 21 November with post-show Q&As on 5, 12 & 19 November with special guests including Vincent Ibrahim and Lord Peter Hain.

The Moth started as a 10 minute online monologue written, rehearsed and filmed during the Covid pandemic. Its had over 6000 views and has been seen at film festivals all over the world including Brazil, India, South Korea, New York, South Africa, Europe and Britain.

South African born writer Paul Herzberg, who has lived in the UK for most of his adult life developed it into a full stage play over a period of 5 years. It was first produced in 2025 by Elysium TC and rehearsed in Stanley with a North East cast & creative team (except for Faz Singhateh) and toured the North. Micky Cochrane, who played Marius Muller, won a Northeast Culture Award for his performance.

‘Bridgerton Star’ Adjoah Andoh played the voice of Joy Josana, mother of John, played by Faz Singhateh

Now it’s going to London, another proud story of North East cultural success.

THE MOTH deals with a chance encounter between two men, one black, one white, on a train in the 90s. One, John Josana, is a black British activist and political commentator, the other, Marius Muller, is a white ex-special services soldier from the South African Army dealing with PTSD from his time fighting in the Angolan War for the Apartheid government. The confrontation they have sends their lives spiralling in different directions… John to fame and success, Marius to further pain and chaos. Thirty years on the two men meet again in front of the nation’s cameras to tell their competing stories.

THE MOTH is an unmissable, gripping political thriller with its pulse on the present time. It deals with war, race, PTSD, the legacy of Apartheid, the burden of history, the quest for redemption and the limits of forgiveness.

Director Jake Murray says: “THE MOTH is a story of North East success. It was a huge hit when it toured up here with an incredible response from our audiences. We are proud to be bringing it to London to put it in front of a new audience. In doing so we are flying the flag for North East theatre and the incredible talent up here.”

The Moth runs at Finborough Theatre in London’s Earl’s Court from 27 October to 21 November with post-show Q&As on 5, 12 & 19 November with special guests including Vincent Ibrahim and Lord Peter Hain.

For Tickets – https://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/productions/the-moth