Photos

The Color Purple musical online stream – behind-the-scenes photos from Curve Leicester

Check out these exclusive photos showing the team in action

Alex Wood

Alex Wood

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11 February 2021

The Color Purple
The Color Purple
© Pamela Raith

Exclusive: Have a first look behind-the-scenes at Curve Leicester and Birmingham Hippodrome's concert production of The Color Purple.

The cast of The Color Purple
The cast of The Color Purple
© Pamela Raith

Presented in a similar vein to Curve's previous production of Sunset Boulevard, the piece has been captured at the venue in Covid-safe conditions, and will be available to online audiences later this month.

The cast of The Color Purple
The cast of The Color Purple
© Pamela Raith

The cast features T'Shan Williams as Celie, with Danielle Fiamanya as Nettie, Karen Mavundukure as Sofia, Ako Mitchell as Mister and Simon Anthony Rhoden as Harpo. Also returning to Curve is Carly Mercedes Dyer, who played Anita in the venue's revival of West Side Story, as Shug Avery.

T'Shan Williams, Carly Mercedes Dyer and Crosscut Media Gimbal Operator Mbili Munthali
T'Shan Williams, Carly Mercedes Dyer and Crosscut Media Gimbal Operator Mbili Munthali
© Pamela Raith

The company is completed by returning cast members Geoff Aymer, KM Drew Boateng, Owen Chaponda, Perola Congo, Danielle Kassarate, Anelisa Lamola, Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy, Landi Oshinowo and Jo Servi.

Simon-Anthony Rhoden and Karen Mavundukure
Simon-Anthony Rhoden and Karen Mavundukure
© Pamela Raith

The musical is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, and tells the story of heroine Celie over 40 years as she finds her place in the world. It has a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray.

Musical director Alex Parker
Musical director Alex Parker
© Pamela Raith

The creative team features director Tinuke Craig, alongside musical director Alex Parker, designer Alex Lowde, choreographer Mark Smith, sound designer Tom Marshall and casting director Kay Magson CDG. The production will be lit by Curve associate Ben Cracknell.

Director Tinuke Craig
Director Tinuke Craig
© Pamela Raith

The adaptation of Walker's seminal novel was first staged in the US in 2005 and in the UK at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2013, with that production then transferring to Broadway where it ran until 2017. Last year, the Curve and Birmingham production won the 2020 Best Regional Production Award at the WhatsOnStage Awards.

Danielle Kassarate as Doris, Landi Oshinowo as Jarene and Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah as Darlene
Danielle Kassarate as Doris, Landi Oshinowo as Jarene and Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah as Darlene
© Pamela Raith

The piece will be available from 16 February to 7 March 2021, with tickets currently available via Curve Leicester's website. 2,000 free tickets will also be offered to NHS staff.

Danielle Fiamanya
Danielle Fiamanya
© Pamela Raith

Curve will offer a range of accessible performances throughout the run, including captioned and audio described streams.

Clockwise from Left - KM Drew Boateng, Simon-Anthony Rhoden, Owen Chaponda and T'Shan Williams
Clockwise from Left – KM Drew Boateng, Simon-Anthony Rhoden, Owen Chaponda and T'Shan Williams
© Pamela Raith
Artistic director Nikolai Foster
Artistic director Nikolai Foster
© Pamela Raith

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