Layton Williams & Bumni Mojekwu To Star In A DREAM ACROSS THE OCEAN at Ashcroft Theatre

EastEnders actress Bumni Mojekwu and Layton Williams, the first black Billy Elliott in the West End musical, are the first major names attached to new British musical A Dream Across The Ocean.

Directed by Ray Shell, A Dream Across The Ocean, tells the story of Winston Morgan, who leaves the Caribbean in the 1960's and travels to London in search of a better life for his family. It follows his struggles as he endeavours to settle in the mother country: his lonely early years without Annie, the love of his life. It also tells of his enduring friendship with Patrick Mulligan, an Irishman who shares the rooming house that accepts them both when no one else would, and how his faith and determination helps him to create a new life in a cold, strange land.

A Dream Across The Ocean is a musical that celebrates the faith and determination of the Afro Caribbean Church community who were part of the Windrush generation that came to Britain during the 1940’s 50’s and 60's.

It will get its world premiere at The Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 August, 2012.

A Dream Across The Ocean features a live band and music that was endemic to the era in which it is set: from British gospel to ska: following the gamut through reggae, calypso and soul music.

Bumni Mojekwu has been cast in the pivotal role of Annie. She played Mercy in EastEnders and its internet spin-off EastEnders:E20. Mercy’s introduction to EastEnders along with her grandmother Grace made them the first Nigerian family to appear in the series. In October 2011, Bumni was nominated in the Young Shooting Star (16-23) category at the Screen Nation Awards for her performance as Mercy, which celebrates the best British Black talent.i988888888i has also appeared in the cult E4 sci-fi series Misfits, and in What Fatima Did at Hampstead Theatre.

Layton Williams has been cast as Winston and Annie’s son, David. Layton made West End headlines at the first black Billy in the musical Billy Elliott. He also sang the role of young Michael Jackson when ThrillerLive opened in the West End in 2009. On TV he starred as Kylie in two series of Jonathan Harvey’s comedy, Beautiful People.