Actor Solomon Gordon, who trained at Leeds Conservatoire and Leeds City College, is now on a UK tour of the stage adaptation of Floella Benjamin’s Coming to England.
This vibrant and energetic new play tells Floella’s personal story of moving to England in the 1960s at the age of 10. Coming to England is an inspiring tale about determination and perseverance from which hope and triumph emerge during the Windrush generation.
Solomon, who is playing Floella’s brother Lester, was inspired to act at an early age by watching Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and its behind the scenes footage.
He said, “The wonder and the silliness of it all showed me how we can become different things or people.”
Solomon began studying Acting at age 16, completing a BTEC Level 3 Diploma at Leeds City College, followed by an undergraduate degree at Leeds Conservatoire; both members of Luminate Education Group.
He has also acted alongside Emmerdale stars in Bilal and Ted’s Bradfordian Adventure; a play commissioned by BBC Radio Leeds for Bradford 2025.
The 22-year-old drew on his training, citing movement and clown workshops as particularly useful for the role of Lester, plus experience of hosting events in Bradford surrounding the Windrush generation.
“Listening to their stories broadened my knowledge to how everyone's story of coming to England is very different. Coming to England is to celebrate as well as educate therefore we are doing a lot of dancing and being as goofy as possible.”
“Everyone in the room clicked and from then on the same energy has been present,” Solomon added about the show’s cast and creatives.
The cast for Coming to England hails from the stage and screen. The role of Floella is played by Julene Robinson (Get Up! Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre), (The Night Woman, Barbican Centre), (The Witcher, Netflix).
Find out more about the show and book tickets at comingtoengland.com. Visit leedsconservatoire.ac.uk for information on Leeds Conservatoire and for Leeds City College go to leedscitycollege.ac.uk.
