As part of her ongoing post-show Q&A series, on Tuesday 7 July 2019, Mates co-founder Terri Paddock will be celebrating the life and legacy of Nina Simone at Black Is the Color of My Voice with writer-performer Apphia Campbell. Got any questions?
I missed Apphia Campbell’s previous London runs for her acclaimed one-woman play Black Is the Color of My Voice. Happily, it’s now returning for a three-week summer season at The Vaults and – lucky me – I get to chair a post-show Q&A with amazing Apphia.
Following sell-out seasons in Shanghai, New York, Edinburgh and at London’s Trafalgar Studios, Wilton’s Music Hall and Crazy Coqs, the Fringe First award winner Apphia Campbell brings her acclaimed play with music to The Vaults Theatre.
Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, Black Is the Color of My Voice follows a successful jazz singer and civil rights activist seeking 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.
Campbell is originally from Florida and, after graduating from college, she moved to New York where she performed Off-Broadway. In 2009, Apphia moved to Shanghai, China where she sang blues, jazz and pop in various venues and eventually formed Play The Spotlight Theatre Company, focussing on new works and musical pieces.
“Campbell may wear Simone’s trademark head wrap, but her performance goes beyond impersonation” – ★★★★ The Times
“Compelling & heartbreaking, punctuated with bursts of song” – ★★★★ Edinburgh Festival Magazine
In 2013 she wrote Black Is the Color of My Voice and opened in Shanghai to rave reviews before performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2014, where it sold out, and touring the UK. In 2017, her new show with Meredith Yarbrough, Woke, was presented as part of the Made In Scotland Showcase, won a Scotsman Fringe First, a Highly Commended award from Amnesty International, and was shortlisted for The Filipa Bragança Award and Scottish Art Club Theatre Award, returning for a sell-out second Edinburgh Fringe season and UK tour in 2018. Ahead of Black Is the Color of My Voice’s Vaults run, Woke transfers to Battersea Arts Centre.
After the 7.45pm performance of Black Is the Color of My Voice on Tuesday 7 July 2019, I’ll talk to Apphia Campbell about Nina Simone, the blues and her journey to date. Any questions? Join us!
Terri Paddock founded WhatsOnStage.com and the WhatsOnStage Awards, running the company and its events from 1996 to 2013. Terri is also the author of two novels, Come Clean and Beware the Dwarfs, and has previously written for the Evening Standard, Independent, The Times and other national publications. She is renowned for her 'legendary' post-show Q&As and also produces the annual Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and acts as a digital, content strategy and event consultant for theatre, producers and other clients. She tweets about theatre at @TerriPaddock.
