NETFLIX STAR HARRISON OSTERFIELD JOINS THE CAST OF MAIA NOVI’S INVASIVE SPECIES
Ella Blackburn, Max Percy and Kalifa Taylor complete the full cast.
Following its critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run, Eric Kuhn Productions today announces the full cast and creative team for the UK première of Maia Novi’s semi-autobiographical play Invasive Species.Directed by Pulitzer Prize finalist Michael Breslin, Novi will reprise the lead role alongside Harrison Osterfield best known for his breakout role in Netflix’s The Irregulars. They are joined by Ella Blackburn, Max Percy and Kalifa Taylor.
Invasive Species’ successful run at The Vineyard’s Dimson Theatre in 2024 garnered attention as it touched on poignant issues of immigration, identity politics and mental health. This darkly comic and moving playopens at King’s Head Theatre on 5 September 2025, with previews from 3 September, and runs until 3 October.
Michael Breslin said today, “After a thrilling run in New York last summer, I am excited for London audiences to experience Maia’s hilarious and moving play. I am also excited to welcome a new company of brilliant UK actors into the whip smart, electric, and heartfelt world of Invasive Species.”
Eric Kuhn adds, “Invasive Species was created by a group of New York’s most dynamic and innovative theatrical artists who are actively defining contemporary American theatre. We are thrilled to bring this groundbreaking production to the UK with a brilliant new cast, and we can’t wait for London audiences to experience this visionary show after its triumphant run Off-Broadway.”
Producers Eric Kuhn and Adam Rodner also announce new co-producers. Writer, director and co-creator of SIX Lucy Moss, signs up to support the productions alongside Salem Productions, John Voege, Amauta M. Firmino and María Inés Olmedo Projects. The show is general managed and executive produced by James Quaife.
Instagram and TikTok: @invasivespeciesplay
www.invasivespeciesplay.com
Eric Kuhn Productions presents
INVASIVE SPECIES
Written by and starring Maia Novi
Cast: Ella Blackburn, Maia Novi, Harrison Osterfield, Max Percy, Kalifa Taylor.
Director: Michael Breslin; Dramaturg: Amauta M. Firmino; UK Set Designer & Costume Supervisor: Damien Stanton; UK Associate Lighting Designer: Ben Jacobs; UK Associate Sound Designer: Dominic Brennan; Production Manager: Carrie Croft; General Manager and Executive Producer: James Quaife.3 September – 3 October 2025
Maia will stop at nothing to be in the American movies, even if it means losing her mind. Following the journey of an Argentinean actor as she tests the limits of her American dream, Invasive Species is an outrageous dark comedy about how immigrating to the US maybe the role of a lifetime.
Maia Novi is a playwright and actor. As a writer, her stage play Invasive Species was named one of the ‘Top 10 Cultural Moments of 2024’ by The Hollywood Reporter, with the play currently in development for a feature with Film4 and Wayward Pictures. Her recent acting credits include 5 Models in Ruins, 1981 at Lincoln Center, and Invasive Species at Vineyard’s Dimson Theatre.
Ella Blackburn plays Performer 5. Her theatre credits include The Thing (White Bear Theatre), Julius Caesar – Primary Shakespeare (Orange Tree Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (Roman Theatre), Mewling and Puking (Hen and Chickens Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (UK tour), and Windfall (Southwark Playhouse).
Harrison Osterfield plays Performer 3. His theatre credits include Chatroom and Much Ado About Nothing (White Bear Theatre). For television, his credits include The Phoebus Files, The Irregulars and Catch-22; and for film Chaos Walking. Harrison is represented by United Agents and Podwall Entertainment.
Max Percy plays Performer 4. His theatre credits include Baklâ (The North Wall), Dumbledore is So Gay (Pleasance Theatre, Vaults Festival), My Dad’s Gap Year (Park Theatre), My Mind is Free (UK tour) and Peter Pan (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). He is co-artistic director of Papergang Theatre, Artistic Associate at Roots Touring and New Earth Theatre.
Kalifa Taylor plays Performer 2. Her theatre credits include The Taming of the Shrew, All’s Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare in the Squares), A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story (Birmingham Rep), Noises Off! (Theatre Royal Haymarket), 1000 Ways The World Will End (And How It Starts Again) (King’s Head Theatre), Feel More X Lately (Proforca Theatre, Lion and Unicorn Theatre), Laura and Sophia (Pistachio Theatre Company), and Selected Recordings of Us (The Space).
Michael Breslin directs. Breslin is a writer, director, and actor. His writing credits include The Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre), Circle Jerk (Livestreamed online production – Pulitzer finalist and Obie Award) and This American Wife (Livestreamed online production), and for screen, The Wives and Bikini. He also co-wrote the book for Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical with Patrick Foley which streamed on TodayTix, in aid of The Actors Fund.
INVASIVE SPECIES
LISTINGS
King’s Head Theatre
116p Upper St, London, N1 1QP
Box Office: 0207 226 8561
https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/invasive-species-q1qt
3 September – 3 October 2025
Tickets from £10