Esther Ming Li to Lead 'Klara' at Bush Theatre, Marking Pivotal London Stage Debut

London’s esteemed Bush Theatre is set to host a significant theatrical event this August, as Chinese Canadian actress Esther Ming Li steps into the demanding lead role of Klara in the world premiere of Mohammedally Al-Hashemi’s new play, Klara.

Scheduled for August 28th and 30th, this production marks Li’s highly anticipated London stage debut, a moment she describes as a profound privilege and a pivotal turn in her esteemed career.

Klara promises to be a deeply moving exploration of grief and healing, centering on Li’s character. “I’ll be playing the lead role of Klara in a new play called Klara written by Mohammedally Al-Hashemi which will be directed by both Mohammedally Al-Hashemi and Malachi Pullar-Latchman,” Li explains, detailing the play’s poignant narrative.

“The story follows a woman who attends a therapy session following her boyfriend’s fatal death in a car crash. When the therapist encourages her to give her hand at a re-enactment exercise, we journey through the layers of grief that she wears as armor; we see her confront her loss and explore the depth of her pain as she takes her first steps towards healing and reconnecting with herself.”

The play’s intricate emotional landscape places Klara at its very heart, making Li’s portrayal crucial to the production’s success. “Mohammedally vaguely had me in mind while he was writing this piece,” Li reveals about her casting. “We were supposed to work together on a previous project earlier this year, but the universe had different plans! So, it was nice to finally reconnect and work on this piece together. I definitely feel the responsibility as I play the titular character. But at the same time, it is really such an honour.”

A Stage Shared with Legends: The Bush Theatre's Legacy

The choice of the Bush Theatre as the venue for Klara underscores the production’s ambition and significance. Located in the dynamic neighbourhood of Shepherd’s Bush, this venue has long been celebrated as one of London’s most influential and respected stages for new writing and emerging talent. Since its founding in 1972, the Bush has cultivated a formidable reputation for championing innovative, inclusive, and socially engaged theatre that mirrors the breadth and diversity of contemporary Britain.

Throughout its distinguished history, the Bush has served as an early platform for some of the UK’s most celebrated writers and performers. Its alumni list reads like a who’s who of modern British talent, including Olivia Colman, Michaela Coel, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, James Graham, Lucy Kirkwood, Arinzé Kene, and Jack Thorne—figures who have gone on to transform stage and screen both nationally and internationally.

The thought of performing in such a storied space is not lost on Li. “Having studied in a British drama school, being able to perform at the Bush Theatre is definitely a huge privilege and to have been able to share the same venue and stages as Alan Rickman, Olivia Colman, Michaela Coel, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge is astonishing,” she shares. “It’s also a theatre for writers and new emerging talent. And that is also very exciting. It’s a place where so many household names have workshopped their talents.”

A Pivotal Career Moment: London Stage Debut

For Li, Klara represents more than just another role; it's a significant milestone. “Working on Klara right now is hugely exciting. It’ll be my first time on stage in London,” she states with palpable enthusiasm. “And especially having gone through drama school, where we hear about the plays being put on at this theatre, it means so much that I’ll be able to be a part of something as exciting as The Bush Theatre. Also, being able to play a character for the first time ever in the world premiere of this play is an immense honour. Every ounce of preparation for this role is soul food for me.”

The casting process itself speaks volumes about Mohammedally Al-Hashemi’s conviction in Li’s abilities. “Mohammedally left me a voice note and I knew I had to take it on. He said he would love for me to be able to play Klara,” Li recounts, highlighting the direct and personal nature of the offer. “I read the play and it made me cry. Mohammedally had also written the character to be Canadian as well, so I had to!” Her commitment to the project was immediate and unwavering, even necessitating a last-minute adjustment to her travel plans. “At the time I had a flight booked on the day of the first show. And after speaking with my agent, I quickly changed my flight so I could do this project.”

LAMDA Training: The Foundation for Deep Roles

Li credits her intensive training at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA), where she earned a BA (Hons) in Professional Acting, as an indispensable foundation for tackling such a demanding role. “I am thanking the gods and angels for my LAMDA education right now. I absolutely couldn’t have done this without my training,” she affirms. Beyond the traditional acting, voice, and movement classes, Li found particular value in a unique aspect of her curriculum.

“Apart from the usual acting, voice, movement stuff, I’m actually very grateful for the Auto-Cours segment of our course which is basically physical theatre devised in my own words. Every week we had to come up with a short, devised piece of theatre that we shared with the class. It taught me how to collaborate with other creatives and basically put on a show! There are a lot of soft skills required to put on a good show and I’m grateful my education has provided me with an environment which fostered that.”

Embodying Grief: A Bespoke Approach to Emotional Depth

Klara delves deeply into the human experience of loss and the intricate process of grieving. Preparing for a role that demands such profound emotional honesty requires a unique approach. “I am not an actor that only subscribes to one technique. I think I intuitively approach each role in a bespoke way,” Li explains. While she hasn't personally experienced the specific trauma Klara endures—losing a partner in a fatal car crash—Li draws upon a well of observation and empathy.

“With Klara, although I haven’t experienced something as traumatic as losing your partner in a car crash, I have experienced and watched people close to me each grieve in very different ways. It’s about observing and learning and then learning to then go back to observing. Great actors that I admire are lifelong students. It’s a privilege that our jobs can give us that– and it’s also my favorite part about what I do.”

Addressing the question of whether personal loss informs her performance, Li reflects on the transformative power of grief. “I haven’t experienced that kind of grief that is so close to home. It’s traumatic. I find it astonishing that although grief can’t physically, say, chop off your arm, it can chemically change your brain; and then through repetitive tension in certain parts of your body, and through time, it can physically alter you. However, I have had a life. And (hopefully) I can act. And somewhere in between, that’s the craft.”

This nuanced perspective highlights her dedication to the craft, relying on observation and imagination to bridge the gap between personal experience and character portrayal.

From Screen to Stage: Bridging the Acting

Li is no stranger to emotionally complex roles, having previously earned credits on the award-winning Netflix film “The Adam Project” working alongside Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo, Apple+’s award-winning series “Ghostwriter”, Paramount+’s Emmy nominated series “The Twilight Zone”, Disney’s TV films “Under Wraps” and “Upside-Down Magic”, and a recurring role as Carly Roche on the Netflix’s Emmy nominated series Snowpiercer. Interestingly, she notes a thematic parallel between the Carly and her character in Klara. “It’s funny it just occurred to me now that both characters go through grief with Carly grieving the loss of her mother on the show, and Klara grieving the loss of her boyfriend,” she observes.

While the emotional core remains consistent, Li acknowledges the practical differences in preparation between screen and stage. “I think at the end of the day, acting is acting. And I do the same kind of character prep regardless of which medium. Of course there are differences. For example, in theatre, I get to live the story from beginning to end and can ride the wave of momentum of the story. Whereas on screen, I might have to do more work to remind myself the moment before, in each given scene.”

Her impressive resume also includes commercial campaigns including Netflix’s “You’re Not Ready” campaign, Nintendo’s “Miitopia” campaign, and working alongside Academy Award-nominated director Céline Song on "A Place Beyond Time" for Marina Bay Sands Hotels which has racked up over 6.5 million views. Li speaks glowingly of the experience.

“Revelationary. It was just cool that she stands her ground and spoke her mind about her vision. She sets the tone and standard of work on set but is also such a gentle soul to talk to and be around. I feel inspired by people who are unapologetic, and she is a force of nature.”

As Esther Ming Li prepares to bring Klara’s journey of grief and healing to life on the Bush Theatre stage, audiences can anticipate a performance of profound depth and sensitivity. Her London stage debut promises to be a memorable event, cementing her place as a leading talent in the vibrant UK theatre scene.

Follow @esthermingli on Instagram.