North East Theatre Guide: Preview: Black Is The Color Of My Voice at Darlington Hippodrome

03/10/2024

Preview: Black Is The Color Of My Voice at Darlington Hippodrome

Black Is The Color Of My Voice

Darlington Hippodrome

Monday 14th October 2024

Written and Directed by Apphia Campbell

Performed by Nicholle Cherrie

“Moving portrayal of determination and survival.” ★★★★ Times

Inspired by the life of Nina Simone and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live.

Apphia Campbell’s acclaimed play follows a successful jazz singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.

The show has played nationally and internationally to standing ovations from Shanghai and New York to Edinburgh and the West End of London. It recently toured Australia and won the Best Theatre Award at Adelaide Fringe 2024.

Photo: Steve Ullathorne;

Nicholle Cherrie graduated from ArtsEd in 2017. Her theatre credits include Soon (Eclipse), Mansfield Park (Watermill), Splintered (Soho), Black Love (Kiln), 15 Heroines (Jermyn Street), Girl From The North Country (Gielgud/Toronto), Richard II (Shakespeare’s Globe), Leave Taking (Bush), Mamma Mia (Cyprus), and Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park). Her television credits include Doctors (BBC).

Apphia Campbell is originally from United States and graduated from Florida International University with a BFA in theatre performance. She wrote Black Is The Color Of My Voice in 2013. In 2017 her new show with Meredith Yarbrough, Woke, was presented as part of the Made In Scotland Showcase, where it won a Scotsman Fringe First, a Highly Commended from Amnesty International Award, and was shortlisted for The Filipa Bragança Award and Scottish Art Club Theatre Award.

In 2019, she made her West End debut with Black Is The Color Of My Voice at Trafalgar Studios and had a London premiere of Woke at Battersea Arts Centre.

Her first commission from the BBC for a children’s story, called Zachary The Zebroid aired in 2020 and she also wrote Birdie’s Dilemma for Scenes for Survival (BBC in collaboration with NTS Scotland). She was one of six writers who wrote for the National Theatre of Scotland’s Christmas show Rapunzel.

Recent Credits: The Last Bordello (David Leddy, Director) Woke (Caitlin Skinner, Director), Black Is The Color Of My Voice (Arran Hawkins, Director), The Color Purple (James Harkness, Director), Soul Sessions ( Cabaret), No Exit (Michael Beets, Director).