Brixton House’s Housemates Festival returned from 1–19 September 2026, bringing together artists and creatives for three weeks of theatre, conversation and creative development.
Rooted in South London communities, this year’s festival explored themes including women’s healthcare, queer faith, politics, race, loneliness and contemporary survival, providing a platform for emerging and established talent to develop and showcase their work.
Among the creatives presenting work at the festival was Samuel Anderson, whose play formed part of the 2026 programme.
We caught up with Samuel to discuss his involvement in the festival, his creative journey and the inspiration behind his work.
Goodbye by Alejandra Chamorro Cuevas is part of Brixton House’s flagship Housemates Festival for new work, 1-19 Sep. Tickets £17 https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/
Please introduce yourself …
My name is Samuel Anderson and I’m playing William.
Tell us about Goodbye and the story behind it, which will be seen in London for the first time as part of Housemates Festival…
Goodbye is a 2 hander, set in an assisted suicide clinic. It’s a dark comedy that explores friendship, love, life and death.
Tell us a little about the team you’re working with, the people helping you bring the production to life…
I’m working with an amazing team. My partner on stage and my co-exec Producer is Mónica Lopera. Misha Novak was our research and development Producer. Miguel Torres Umba is directing. My good friend for many years Amiir Saleem is our stage manager and our Sound engineer. Our Producer is the wonderful María Cuervo. Tim McQuillen-Wright is our Costume and Set designer.
How does it feel to be part of Housemates Festival 2026, with Brixton House supporting the development of work from such different perspectives?
It is such a privilege to be a part of the Brixton House Housemates Festival. It’s a great opportunity to be in and amongst like-minded people. I would love if more theatres around London and around the country would put on similar festivals. I think that would be a major help for our industry.
The original play was a huge success in Colombia. Can you tell us what sparked the London production?
I had decided a year ago to get into the production side of this industry and once I set that idea down, opportunities began to come. One afternoon in February, Mónica called me with this opportunity and the rights to a Colombian play. I said I would be thrilled to get involved. That’s what sparked the beginning.
I have been involved from the very beginning. Building a team, finding places to rehearse, finding a place to put on a showcase, inviting agents/ producers/ directors/ industry heads to come down and see what we’ve got.
What does this story mean to you personally?
For me, this play is an incredible opportunity to explore probably our deepest Question: what is life, what is death, and where do we draw the line?
At the core of Goodbye is friendship and male mental health within the Jamaican-British community. Why is it important to explore vulnerability and the ways men support one another through friendship?
It’s very important to be exploring the topic of men’s mental health. If we look at the statistics of the suicide rates in this country, men make up 70% of that number. Which tells its own story very specifically, and there’s a lot of taboo around speaking about your feelings as a man. It’s a taboo that needs to be removed.
What has been the most challenging part of this production, and was there a moment when you really had to dig deep to push through?
There have been a few challenges. Ultimately this is a comedy, but with the words on the page it could very easily turn into a tragedy if you get it wrong. We are treading a very thin line here, and obviously the subject matter is very serious so that’s a challenge itself. When it comes to performing it, it’s gonna be a challenge afterwards too. I imagine there’s gonna be a lot of conversations when we come off stage.
Housemates is about championing new voices and new work. What do you think British theatre needs to be doing more of when it comes to supporting emerging artists and the stories they want to tell?
Considering my journey as an actor so far, this play actually sits in a place all of its own. It’s a new beginning for me. It’s the first thing I’ve produced, the first thing that I’ve been involved with from Genesis, from farm to table if you like. So it’s a new beginning and very important to have more of these opportunities.
GETTING TO KNOW …
If not this, then what? I wasn’t an actor, I have no idea what I would be. I’ve never done anything else. Well I’ve done lots of other things but I’ve never focused my energy seriously into anything else. So if I wasn’t an actor, I think I’d be trying to be an actor
What’s made you sad, mad, & glad this week? Well, it’s a Monday so it’s all gravy so far
What are you watching and reading? I’m actually not watching anything at the moment. I am reading the Script over and over again to make sure I remember my lines, although I did just come across an incredible book that I’ve been getting into. It’s called Reality Transurfing.
The last play you saw? Retrograde by Ryan Calais Cameron. Ivanno Jeremiah is a brilliant actor who was playing Sidney Poitier. Fantastic play
The last live music event? Jazz at Ronnie Scotts
What’s currently on your playlist? I’ve been listening to Eddy Lock Jaw Davis playing I’m Just A Lucky So-and-So quite a bit recently.
Which podcast are you listening to? My go-to Podcasts are the boxing ones. I love The Fight with Teddy Atlas and I love 5Live Boxing with Steve Bunce, every Monday.
Where’s your happy place? My happy place is Barcelona and I recently visited Rio de Janeiro.That is an incredible place
Celebrate someone else … Right now I’m gonna celebrate Mónica. She’s an absolute force of nature. A Honey Badger. A Get-Up-and-Go’er, a Do’er. Thanks to her starting the engine, it’s thrown us off the cliff and here we are now, flying into the last week of rehearsals and getting ready to perform this play for everyone.
What’s next? Couple of things coming up for me next – you get the Amandaland Christmas special (BBC), and in the New Year there’s a show called The Wanted Man (Apple TV) which I will be starring in alongside Hugh Laurie and Thandie Newton.
Where can we find you? (socials) @TheBlackPaddy @LaLopera @BrxHouseTheatre
Where can we watch you at work? Come see me in Goodbye at Brixton House, part of Housemates Festival (1-19 Sep). Tickets £17 https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/