About
our story
In Swahili, roots mbili means two roots.
Roots Mbili Theatre’s journey started in Kampala, Uganda in 2019.
During a homecoming performance of Far Gone by Writer and Performer John Rwothomack, he was struck by the city’s raw talent but its disconnection with the rest of the world.
So in 2021, John decided to forge artistic connections between Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK. This is how Roots Mbili Theatre, the name and company came to be.
In just 5 years, and with boundless ambition, the company has taken its shows to 4 continents across the world, with work that transcends language and culture.
In that time, John as Artistic Director together with the support of Executive Producer Sam Holland and then Digital Director Smart Banda, has pioneered a new brand of theatre making and storytelling
Moving forward, the company now exist both as a theatre company and a CIC, Roots Mbili Arts. Both entities are committed to making dynamic, groundbreaking theatre and producing innovative art projects that fuse the richness of at least two different cultures from across the world.
Whilst firmly planted in Sheffield, our work is steeped in Sub-Saharan spirit.
“These are shows looking at real life and the world, directly at, rather than away from, pain and honesty. We should all challenge theatres to platform them.”
John Rwothomack, Artistic Director
Embodying global majority voices whilst transcending the stage
OUR WORK
OUR TEAM
John Rwothomack
John is an award winning Ugandan-born, London-trained writer, director, and actor whose work has made a significant impact on both UK and international stages.
As a playwright, he has been commissioned by Sheffield Theatres and English Touring Theatre and has received multiple accolades, including shortlistings for the Alfred Fagon Award for Play of the Year and The Sit Up Award, as well as being a recipient of the Peggy Ramsay Award and The African Impact Award for creativity.
His plays, including Lines, Never Look Back, and Far Gone, have been performed in prestigious venues across the UK and toured the world.
Founder
Sam Holland
Sam is a Sheffield-based freelance theatre producer and festival director.
He founded the UK’s largest Refugee Week festival, Migration Matters Festival in Sheffield, and directed from 2016 until 2025.
Having first worked with John Rwothomack on Bad Blood Blues in 2018, Sam has produced with Roots Mbili since its inception, producing LINES, Never Look and Far Gone from 2019 culminating in a world tour in 2025-2026.
His other credits include ‘Benny and the Greycats’ (Maya Productions), 'My Name is Rachel Corrie’ 2019, ‘The Pianist of Sarajevo’ 2021 and ‘There Is No Planet B’ 2021 (all with Hassun El Zafar), ‘Bonfire’ 2023 (Simon Marshall), ‘Anna Iss Mee Hanan’ 2023 (Ajjaz Awad-Ibrahim) and ‘RAFT’ (Soraya Nabipour) 2025-present.
Sam also leads the charity Arts on the Run, which is behind Migration Matters Festival and co-produces The Matter of Migration podcast.
Executive Producer BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Daniel Bailey
Award-winning director Daniel Bailey is the former associate artistic director at London’s Bush Theatre.
He has a wealth of experience in directing for stage and screen, including in the West End, America and for Channel 4.
He is also a dramaturg, writer and winner of The Stage Debut Award for Best Creative West End Debut. Daniel is the director of the world premiere of Roots Mbili Theatre’s world premiere of Never Look Back.
Mumbi Nkonde
Mumbi Nkonde is an activist, social justice and audience development specialist.
They are the programme lead for the Weaving Liberation Digital Justice Fund, which which focuses on redistributing power and funding to groups resisting digital policing and corporate surveillance across Europe
Previously, Mumbi has supported transformative social movements across the UK and was a regional non-professional cast member for the joint production of Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman in Sheffield.
Tchiyiwe Chihana
Tchiyiwe Chihana is a British-Zambian broadcaster, entrepreneur, and cultural strategist specialising in public-interest media and audience development. She serves as Managing Director and co-founder of the Black-led media organisation African Voices Platform, co-founder of the Generative Journalism Alliance, and former chairperson of the independent media association.
Recognised for her narrative influence, her leadership earned the Purposeful Tribe Narrative Influence & Media Impact Award, alongside a nomination for the AfBC African Business Award.
Her extensive portfolio includes previous roles such as audience development lead for the Migration Matters Festival, associate producer for the Page Hall Festival, director at Opus Independents, and co-steward for The People’s Newsroom.
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