Maiya Quansah-Breed
Quansah-Breed performing at Hampton Court Palace in 2022
Born
Maiya Jasmin Esi Quansah-Breed

(1997-07-06) 6 July 1997
Eccles, Greater Manchester, England
Alma materGuildford School of Acting
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active2018-present

Maiya Jasmin Esi Quansah-Breed (born 6 July 1997) is a British stage actress, singer and dancer. She is best known for playing Catherine Parr in the UK tour and original cast of the musical Six,[1] a role that granted her and her fellow castmates an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2019.

Early life and education

Quansah-Breed was born in Eccles and grew up in Glossop. She attended Longdendale High School in Hollingworth. At 16, she then attended college at Pendleton Salford City College, studying musical theatre. [2][3] She trained in musical theatre at Guildford School of Acting, graduating in 2018 with fellow Six cast member Grace Mouat.[4][5]

Career

Musical theatre

Quansah-Breed made her professional debut joining the cast of Six in 2018 for the UK tour production, which then moved permanently to the Arts Theatre in London. She was nominated for the Black British Theatre Awards in 2020 for her portrayal of Catherine Parr in the musical.[6] Quansah-Breed returned to the show a few times as emergency cover for Catherine Parr both in the UK tour and West End production. She also returned to the role in June 2022, with the original cast of the show, for three concerts at Hampton Court Palace.[7][8]

In 2020 she starred in Dominic Powell's Cases, transferring at The Other Palace after a successful run at the Phoenix Theatre.[9] The cast also featured Sabrina Aloueche, Andrew Patrick-Walker, and Adrian Hansel. Quansah-Breed was also part of the album recording of the show in 2021.

In the same year she took part in the workshop of the coming-of-age musical thriller Game Theory, developed by UK theatre company Perfect Pitch and directed by Julie Atherton.[10][11]

Quansah-Breed took the role of Mimi Marquez in the Hope Mill Theatre production of RENT, which was due to open in 2020, but only ran five performances before a new UK COVID-19 lockdown.[12] The production was directed by Luke Sheppard and starred Millie O'Connell as Maureen, Jocasta Almgill as Joanne, Blake Patrick Anderson as Mark, Tom Francis as Roger, Ahmed Hamad as Benny, Dom Hartley-Harris as Collins, and Alex Thomas-Smith as Angel.[13] The show was streamed online during the lockdown and returned at the Hope Mill for a short engagement in 2021. The cast of this second run was mostly the same with Luke Bayer covering the role of Mark and Michael Ahomka-Lindsay playing Benny.[14]

In December 2021, she took part as Lady McDuff in the workshop of the new musical Lady M, with other cast members including, Kerry Ellis as Lady Macbeth, Karl Queensborough as Macbeth, Jamie Muscato as Banquo and George Blagden as McDuff.[15]

In 2023 Quansah-Breed returned in the role of Philoclea to the Hope Mill Theatre for their production of the musical Head Over Heels playing from January to March.[16] The Go-Go's jukebox show made its UK debut in the venue in Manchester.[17]

On 14 June 2023 it was announced that Quansah-Breed would be playing 19-year-old Diana Spencer in a new concert version of the musical Diana, playing at the Eventim Apollo on 4 December 2023. In this version of the show the lead role was split between two actresses, with Kerry Ellis playing Diana, Princess of Wales. Denise Welch also guest starred as Queen Elizabeth.[18]

Music

Quansah-Breed is part of the all-female group SVN, together with original Six cast members Jarnéia Richard-Noel (Jaye’J), Millie O’Connell, Natalie Paris, Alexia McIntosh (Lexi), Aimie Atkinson, and Grace Mouat.[19] The idea for the group was suggested by McIntosh when Six opened in Edinburgh in 2018.[20]

In 2021 SVN released their first original song, 'Stars', with their second single, 'Woman', announced on 28 April 2022 and focusing on female empowerment.[21]

Discography

Year Title Artist Album Ref
2021 "Queen" SVN TBA [22]
"Stars"
2022 "Woman" [23]
"Free" [24]
"Boss" [25]

Personal life

Quansah-Breed is vegan.[26]

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Theatre
2018-2019 Six Catherine Parr UK Tour, Arts Theatre, Hampton Court Palace
2020 Cases Sophia The Other Palace
2021 RENT Mimi Marquez Hope Mill Theatre
The Distance You Have Come Laura Apollo Theatre
2022 The Secret Garden Martha Sowerby London Palladium
2023 Head Over Heels Philoclea Hope Mill Theatre
Lizzie Alice Russell Hope Mill Theatre
2023 Diana Young Diana Spencer Eventim Apollo

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result
2019 - Black British Theatre Awards Best Recent Graduate Award Nominated
Six Olivier Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical Nominated
2020 Black British Theatre Awards Best Female Actor in a Musical Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Season 2, Ep. 9 - Maiya Quansah-Breed". Kerry Ellis. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  2. ↑ Barlow, Nigel (6 November 2018). "Salford Queen reigns in SIX". About Manchester. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Maiya Quansah-Breed in Diana: the Musical | WestendTheatre.com". www.westendtheatre.com. 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  4. ↑ "Profile | Spotlight". www.spotlight.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  5. ↑ "BA Musical Theatre Graduates 2018 | GSA - Guildford School of Acting". gsauk.org. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  6. ↑ "Nominees for 2020 Black British Theatre Awards announced". London Theatre. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  7. ↑ "SIX at Hampton Court Palace tickets - Kingston upon Thames | SIX at Hampton Court Palace". book.sixthemusical.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  8. ↑ "Original West End Queens to perform Six Live at Hampton Court Palace". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  9. ↑ Meyer, Dan (2020-02-07). "U.K. Six Queen Maiya Quansah-Breed to Star in Cases at The Other Palace". Playbill.com.
  10. ↑ "Game Theory – Rachel Bellman, Writer". Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  11. ↑ "The Lowry gives over its biggest theatre to 3 new musicals | Latest News". The Lowry. 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  12. ↑ "Rent at the Hope Mill Theatre – review". 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  13. ↑ Mark, Franklin (2020-11-04). "Check Out These Stunning Photos of Rent at the Hope Mill Theatre". Playbill.com.
  14. ↑ Wise, Rachel (2021-07-14). "2021 cast for Rent at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre announced". Stage Chat. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  15. ↑ "Toy Soldier | Lady M in development with stellar West End cast". www.toysoldierproductions.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  16. ↑ "Head Over Heels – Hope Mill Theatre". hopemilltheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  17. ↑ Brennan, Clare (2023-02-05). "Head Over Heels review – Elizabethan romance meets Go-Go's jukebox musical". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  18. ↑ "Exclusive: Diana musical is coming to London". 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  19. ↑ Columnist, Guest (2022-04-28). "After the musical Six comes SVN - meet the group redefining girl power in 2022". The Big Issue. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  20. ↑ "Meet brand-new girl group SVN". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  21. ↑ Rees, Katrina (2022-03-28). "SVN: Get to know your new favourite girl group". CelebMix. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  22. ↑ Queen by SVN, 2021-05-14, retrieved 2022-08-12
  23. ↑ Woman by SVN, 2022-04-28, retrieved 2022-08-12
  24. ↑ Free by SVN, 2022-07-02, retrieved 2022-08-12
  25. ↑ Boss by SVN, 2022-07-07, retrieved 2022-08-12
  26. ↑ "Why is it that no one would comment if I said I was lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant and couldn't eat meat for health reasons, but the minute the word vegan is uttered, everyone has something to say about it, GO ABOUT YOUR OWN BUSINESS, me being vegan doesn't harm u ✌🏽 🌱". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
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