John Adewole

John came to Britain from West Africa in 1967 and studied Theatre Arts at Dartington College. His first performance experience was as an extra in Carry On Up the Jungle – he ended up playing the Chief alongside Terry Scott and Sid James.

John’s theatre work includes productions at the National Theatre, Lyceum Edinburgh, Almeida Theatre, Belgrade Coventry, the Old Vic, Birmingham Rep and The Gate. Film and television appearances include Ultimate Force, Ali G, Escape from Kampala and the BBC 3 comedy series Little Miss Jocelyn. For many years he was a member of the BBC African Theatre Company.

John has established himself as a formidable storyteller, spinning African and Caribbean yarns through the Zuriya Theatre Company, a collective of storytellers who perform in schools, youth clubs and hard-to-find venues. John played the lead in the company’s portrayal of the life of Marcus Garvey, They Sold Him for Rice and Peas, directed by Alex Pascoe, and in The Marriage of Anansewa, by Effua Sutherland, directed by Y. Maddy.

He has also worked for other African companies, playing the Baraka in Wole Soyinka’s Lion and the Jewel for African Players and a Prisoner in David Mamet’s Edmond at the Old Fire Station, Oxford.

Although John can strum on the guitar, his real musical forte is as a drummer. He plays the congas, kabassa and djembe.

View John's Showreel via his Spotlight page.