Cast set for new musical Black Power Desk’s world premiere

Brixton House and PlayWell Productions have announced the cast for the world premiere of Black Power Desk, a new Black British musical running from 1 to 28 September.

Written by Urielle Klein-Mekongo in collaboration with rapperturg Gerel Falconer, the production is directed by Gbolahan Obisesan with music by Ivor Novello Award winner Renell Shaw.

Set in 1970s London and inspired by the Mangrove Nine and other Black British activists, the story follows two sisters navigating family ties, community struggles and the covert operations of a secret police unit inside New Scotland Yard. Rochelle Rose and Veronica Carabai play Celia and Dina, with Alexander Bellinfantie, Tomos Eames, Gerel Falconer, Fahad Shaft, Chanté Faucher, Alan Drake and Casey Bird completing the cast.

Black Power Desk is Brixton House’s largest production to date and features an original score blending RnB, reggae, soul and ska performed by a live band. The production is part of Brixton House’s Uprising Festival, commemorating 40 years since the Brixton Uprising that followed the police shooting of Cherry Groce.

The full creative team includes Klein-Mekongo (book, lyrics and composition), Obisesan (director), Falconer (lyrics and rapperturgy), Shaw (music and composition), Gail Babb (dramaturgy), Natalie Pryce (set design), Jessica Cabassa (costume design), Prema Mehta (lighting design), Tony Gayle (sound design), Jade Hackett (movement direction) and Aisha Bywaters (casting director).

Following its run in Brixton, the production will tour to Warwick Arts Centre, the Lowry and Birmingham Hippodrome.