Croydon’s Selorm Adonu on theatre, fake news and community
At just 21-years-old, Croydon born and raised Selorm Adonu has already established himself as an actor, film writer and producer.
Now he is taking on his latest venture after being selected for the National Youth Theatre’s REP company, which features 18 of Britain’s most exciting young performers from around the UK.
From October 16 to 26, Mr Adonu will star in the REP company’s latest production, The War of the Worlds, at Wilton’s Music Hall in Graces Alley, Shadwell.
Co-written by playwright Isley Lynn, The War of the Worlds takes inspiration from the public hysteria following Orson Welles’ famous 1938 radio adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel, updating the story to reflect contemporary concerns about fake news and Internet misinformation.
Speaking to the South London Press, Mr Adonu, who lives in New Addington, said: “The script deals with some really current – the idea of fake news and not knowing what’s real and what’s not.
“During the general election this year we saw Twitter being used for politics – streamers coming through and social media being used as a marketing tool.
“But it also flashes back through a lot of different time periods as well – what’s happening now isn’t new, it’s been going on for a long time.”
Mr Adonu, who recently featured in Idris Elba’s ‘Knives Down’ Campaign Music Video as an actor, believes in young people’s ability to challenge the political turmoil which takes a central role in the upcoming production.
He said: “Right now there is a lot of mistrust within communities – but this also means that we have the opportunity to form our own opinions, it’s given young people a space to take part in adult conversations.”
Mr Adonu has recently starred in the critically acclaimed G at the Royal Court – written by Tife Kusoro, and has worked at the West End on the five star show For Black Boy’s Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy as Outreach Co-Ordinator.
But his work stretches far beyond theatre, having set up his own production company, XVI STUDIOS, in 2020 during his studies at the Brit School.
He said: “I made a lot of friends on my theatre course and we started working together on projects.
“We were a bunch of kids filming on our phones and now we’re making films.”
His short film, A Letter To My Government – London’s Curse, produced under XVI STUDIOS, addresses the issues of knife crime in Croydon.
Mr Adonu said: “Croydon for me is my home.
“We are surrounded by statistics – but we come together and support each other because we are more than just our downfall.
“Croydon is one of those places when you mention it people get really scared or excited – I like the unpredictability of it, we’re always underestimated but we rise above it.
“We’re the underdogs of South London and that makes us go harder.”
Having only graduated from the Brit school two years ago, Mr Adonu manages to balance writing, producing and acting all at once.
He said: “I love it – they all tie into one another and I never do anything by myself.
“It’s easy to be alone in this industry but I’m always surrounded by people who can help me and I’m never afraid to ask questions – I know that is the only way I’m going to learn.”
Already looking ahead to the next calendar year, Mr Adonu is planning a series of projects with his production company that will be set in Croydon.
He also hopes to go back to his former primary school, Wolsey Junior Academy, to speak with aspiring young artists.
He said: “I want to show them that it is possible to do what you love – you don’t have to do uni or drama school.
“Eventually, my goal is to set up a home for young creatives to make projects. I want to work with more people and learn as much as I can as well as pass down the skills I have learnt.”
To any young creatives looking to break their way into the industry, Mr Adonu says: “Be audacious, be bold and take risks.”
Pictured top: Selorm Adonu headshot (Picture: Supplied by NYT)