Nairobi, Kenya- Kenyan siblings Lupita Nyong’o and Junior Nyong’o are making history this August as they co-star in one of the world’s most iconic outdoor theatre festivals in New York City.
The two will play twins—Viola and Sebastian—in Twelfth Night, a classic comedy written by English playwright William Shakespeare.
The production will be staged at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater, a prestigious venue in the heart of Manhattan known for hosting Free Shakespeare in the Park—a beloved annual tradition in the U.S. where anyone can watch world-class performances without paying a shilling.
The play officially opens to the public on August 21 and will run until mid-September.
Twelfth Night tells the story of Viola and Sebastian, twins who are separated in a shipwreck and mistakenly think each other is dead. Viola disguises herself as a man to survive, leading to a series of confusing—and hilarious—cases of mistaken identity, love, and reunion.
For this version, the director Saheem Ali, who is also Kenyan-American, has added a local touch. The twins are imagined as migrants from East Africa, and in one scene, Lupita and Junior speak in Swahili.
Lupita Nyong’o, known for her Oscar-winning role in 12 Years a Slave and her work in Black Panther, is arguably Kenya’s most internationally recognized actor. Her younger brother, Junior Nyong’o, is a talented stage actor in his own right, though less known to mainstream audiences.
The announcement caused a stir across theatre circles when Lupita posted on social media:
“My brother Junior and I will take the stage as TWINS in Twelfth Night! We’ve been preparing for these roles all our lives!”
Junior also shared how surreal it was when the director casually mentioned he’d be playing Sebastian—and Lupita chimed in that she’d be Viola. “I just lost my mind,” he said in a later interview.
The pair have grown up performing together informally since childhood, but this is their first major production as co-stars.
The Delacorte Theater has recently undergone a major renovation—costing nearly Ksh 10 billion—to improve seating, lighting, and access. Twelfth Night will be the first play to open after these upgrades.
The event is free, in line with the Public Theater’s mission to make theatre accessible to all.