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Red Velvet

By Lolita Chakrabarti. Radio version of the Tricycle Theatre's award-winning production about the first black actor to play Othello. Starring Adrian Lester.

by Lolita Chakrabarti.

Adrian Lester stars in a radio version of the Tricycle Theatre's award-winning production, directed by Indhu Rubasingham, about the first black actor of note to play Othello.

The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 1833. Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his generation, has collapsed on stage whilst playing Othello. A young black American actor has been asked to take over the role. But as the public riot in the streets over the abolition of slavery, how will the cast, critics and audience react to the revolution taking place in the theatre?

Imagined experiences based on the true story of Ira Aldridge.

Lolita Chakrabarti won Most Promising Playwright at The Evening Standard Awards and the Critics' Circle Awards after the 2012 run of Red Velvet at The Tricycle. Adrian Lester's performance earned him the Best Actor Award at the Critics' Circle Awards.

Music by Paul Englishby

Directed by Indhu Rubasingham
Studio Production by Anne Bunting, Keith Graham and Mike Etherden
Produced by Abigail le Fleming

Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning.

1 hour, 30 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Ira Aldridge Adrian Lester
Ellen Charlotte Lucas
Pierre Eugene O'Hare
Charles Oliver Ryan
Halina Rachel Finnegan
Betty Rachel Finnegan
Margaret Rachel Finnegan
Terence Simon Chandler
Bernard Simon Chandler
Henry Nic Jackman
Casimir Nic Jackman
Connie Natasha Gordon
Director Indhu Rubasingham
Producer Abigail le Fleming
Writer Lolita Chakrabarti

Broadcasts

  • Sat 19 Jul 2014 14:30
  • Sat 8 Aug 2015 14:30

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