Red Velvet (14-19 Oct) @ Guildhall School of Music and Drama

The first play of the season takes audiences to 1833 Covent Garden. Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his generation, has collapsed on stage whilst playing the title role in Othello.

A young, black American actor is asked to take over the role. As the public riot in the streets over the abolition of slavery, how will the cast, critics and audiences react to the revolution taking place in the theatre?

Lolita Chakrabarti’s Olivier-nominated play is a thrilling re-imagination of Ira Aldridge, the first black actor to play Othello on the London stage.

Born in New York City, Aldridge went to the African Free School in New York City at aged 13. The school was established by the New York Manumission Society for the children of free Black people and slaves.

He later emigrates to England after becoming tired of the constant discrimination they faced in America. He acted in many theatre companies in England often playing an African character of nobility.

Lolita has worked widely both as an actress and a writer for both on stage and screen. Her work includes Beowulf (ITV), Vera (ITV), The Casual Vacancy (BBC/HBO) and Jekyll and Hyde (ITV),

Director Wyn Jones’s directing credits include Shadowlands, Theatre Royal, Northampton and Mrs Klein, Theatre Royal Northampton; The Browning Version, Mephisto, August, all Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Red Velvet, 14-19 Oct, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Milton Court Studio Theatre £5-£10 https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/drama/view_all_events/?tx_julleevents_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=6304