As part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015, Play the Spotlight Theatre presents Black is the Color Of My Voice ‘Freedom is no fear’ Nina Simone
By popular demand Black is the Color Of My Voice returns Gilded Balloon (Billiard Room) from Wednesday 5 – Monday 31 August, 13.15. This one woman show is inspired by a poiniant time in the life of singing legend Nina Simone.
Written and performed by Shanghai based singer and actress, Apphia Campbell, this theatre piece with music portrays a jazz musician and civil rights activist called ’Mena Bordeaux’ as she undergoes a spiritual cleansing following the untimely death of her father. During a three-day period of isolation without cigarettes, alcohol, or access to the outside world, Mena 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.
Apphia Campbell is originally from Florida, USA. She was one of the founding members of an award winning 10 year old theatre company called, ‘West Coast Black Theatre Troupe’. The company won the people’s choice Curtain Call award for 2011’s best musical ‘Marvin Gaye: The Man and his Music’ and the 2011 Handy Award by Herald-Tribune’s drama critic Jay Handleman for ‘Five Guys Named Moe’.
Apphia moved to New York performing in regional theatres and off-Broadway. In 2009, she moved to Shanghai, China where she has been singing blues, jazz, and pop in venues such as The Cotton Club, Park Hyatt, Le Meridian Hotel, and JZ music festivals. In 2012 she formed Play The Spotlight Theatre Company(PTS), a theatre company that focuses on new works and musical pieces.
Apphia also wrote and produced a a modern day Motown Christmas story called ‘Josephina’s Holiday’ and starred in ‘No Exit’ for Blue Lane Theatre. Black is the Color Of My Voice recently won the ARGUS ANGEL AWARD at Brighton Fringe and is directed by Arran Hawkins, his previous work as an actor includes performing with ‘Grinning Gargoyle Theatre Company’ in Cornwall and working on award winning short films.
Listings Information: Black is the Color of My Voice will be performed from Wednesday 5 – Monday 31 August. Show starts at 13.15 (14.15 ends). Gilded Balloon: Venue 14 (Billiard Room). Tickets are £6, £8.50, £9.50, £10.50. Box office – 0131 622 6552, Teviot Row House, 13 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AJ.
http://www.gildedballoon.co.uk
Submitted by Scott Weddell
