Dessa Rose comes to London’s Trafalgar Square in July
The European premiere of the musical drama Dessa Rose comes to London’s Trafalgar Studios from 29 July-30 August (press night is 31 July). Dessa Rose is based on the book by Sherley Anne Williams with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once On This Island, Seussical and Rocky the Musical).
This powerful story, set in 1846 in the ante-bellum South, follows two young women on their journey to acceptance. With elements of blues, folk, hymns and gospel, Dessa Rose blends history and fiction. Passionate and innocent Dessa Rose is a young slave faced with a barrage of hardships because of the colour of her skin; while Ruth, a young white mother, faces difficulties because of her gender.
Ruth and Dessa ‘hand down the story’ to their grandchildren, reliving the adventure they experienced together. Through their extraordinary tale, we see their deep and lasting bond and how this makes them part of a ‘long, strong line of women’.
Award-winning director Andrew Keates, who recently spoke at this year’s West End Eurovision challenging the stigma surrounding HIV in support of the MAD Trust, said: “In our current political climate, I can think of no better time to tell this visceral story of how we can learn from those that are different to us and also form lifelong relationships indiscriminate of age, gender and race.”
Dessa Rose is produced by Arion Productions, acclaimed for Passing By, As Is, Rooms – A Rock Romance and Howard Goodall’s A Winter’s Tale. Arion works with the primary goal of presenting theatrical pieces based entirely on their artistic merit, regardless of form.
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