Kwame

Known as a British actor, Kwame Kwei-Armah, is also a playwright, director, singer and broadcaster. Kwame is best known for playing paramedic Finlay Newton in the BBCs medical drama, Casualty. Kwame appeared in Casualty from 1999 to 2004. After living in an environment of no social justice to different races, he felt as if he was witnessing an alien environment, which reinforced his resolve to do well in education. Inspired by the events that he went through while growing up him, Kwame wrote his first play, A Bitter Herb. For this play, Kwame won a Peggy Ramsay Award, and was also put on by the Bristol Old Vic, where he became writer-in-residence. His first breakthrough in fame came with his role as the paramedic Finlay Newton. Apart from that, Kwame also appeared in the Holby City, and BBC’s Afternoon Play, Between the Lines and The Bill. Kwame appeared as a contestand on the Reality TV programme, Comic Relief does Fame Academy in 2003. In 2005 Kwame became the second black Briton to play on stage in the West End of London. His award winning piece Elmina’s Kitchen, transferred to the Garrick Theatre in 2005. Kwame also appeared in Who Shot the Sheriff?, Lewis, Fade to Black, Desert Island Discs, and Great Lives. As a playwright, Kwame also worked on Blues Brother, Soul Sister, and Big Nose. His play, Elmina’s Kitchen, was shortlisted in the Best New Play category at the 2004 Laurence Oliver Awards. It was in 2004, that Kwame also received the Evening Standard Award for the Most Promising New Playwright, and received another nomination for BAFTA award for the television version of the Elmina’s Kitchen. Kwame’s mosrt recent work was for the musical, Tree, for which he collaborated with Idris Elba. Tree premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2019.