BADGERS has officially unveiled its full cast and creative team ahead of its upcoming premiere at the Traverse Festival during the Edinburgh Fringe. Produced by Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Bristol Old Vic and Malaika Kegode, the production is a genre-blending hybrid piece that explores the ethics of true crime and the art of letting go by weaving together memory, myth, and live music.
Writer Malaika Kegode stars in the production alongside a newly completed acting ensemble. Joining previously announced cast members Beth Roberts and Joe Williams are Stephanie Jacob in the role of Bridget Brock, Mary Woodvine as Dora, Hanora Kamen as Meles, and Joseph Tweedale as Jack. The cast brings together extensive experience spanning the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and BAFTA-winning independent cinema.
The production is helmed by director Jenny Davies, a 2026 JMK Award finalist whose recent credits include Waldo’s Circus of Magic and Terror and Outlier for Bristol Old Vic. Davies leads an accomplished creative team that includes set and costume designer Rebecca Wood, sound designer Jack Drewry, and video designer Christopher Harrisson. The atmospheric lighting is handled by co-designers Mike Gunning and Natalia Chan, while Harry Miller steps in as music supervisor. The production features an original score by experimental Bristol-based folk-prog outfit Jakabol, composed by band members Joe Williams, Luke Saxton, and Owen Gatley.
Before arriving in Edinburgh, audiences can catch preview performances of the 80-minute production at Bristol Old Vic from 30 July to 1 August. Following its month-long run at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre from 6 to 30 August, the show will embark on an autumn tour. The itinerary includes a return to Bristol Old Vic in September before transferring to The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth for a limited engagement later in the season. Tickets for all performance legs are on sale now through the respective venue box offices.
