T’Shan Williams and Carly Mercedes Dyer in The Color Purple. Picture: Pamela Raith
Leicester Curve has announced an extension to the hit online run of The Color Purple – at Home. Produced in association with Birmingham Hippodrome, the concert re-working of the hit 2019 production will now stream online until 16 March 2021.
The concert version of the first co-production between Birmingham Hippodrome and Curve which had been due to be part of Curve’s re-opening season, was transformed into an online event following the success of Curve’s Sunset Boulevard – at Home.
Re-imagined by the original creative team of director Tinuke Craig and musical director Alex Parker, The Color Purple – at Home launched online in February and has already been viewed by an audience of 15,000.
To date Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome have offered 2,000 free tickets for the production to NHS workers and school staff members. Over 200 young people have received tickets to give them their first taste of theatre thanks to sponsorship from Leicester-based music licensing company PPL PRS and De Montfort University while Birmingham Hippodrome has been able to offer tickets to first-time attendees through support from the Culture Recovery Fund.
The Color Purple – at Home features returning leads T’Shan Williams and Danielle Fiamanya as sisters Celie and Nettie, along with original cast members KM Drew Boateng, Owen Chaponda, Perola Congo, Danielle Kassarate, Anelisa Lamola, Karen Mavundukure, Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, Landi Oshinowo, Simon Anthony Rhoden and Jo Servi. Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anita in Curve’s 2019 production of West Side Story) joined the company to take on the role of Shug Avery in the concert production.
The creative team for the production also includes designer Alex Lowde, choreographer Mark Smith, sound designer Tom Marshall and casting director Kay Magson. The production is lit by Curve associate Ben Cracknell.
Announcing the extra dates Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said: “Whilst we cannot wait to welcome audiences back to Curve, we’re thrilled audiences have more chances to enjoy our production of The Color Purple – at Home. We’re especially proud this magnificent production has been embraced by young people and in schools, where we’ve been able to offer workshops, learning resources and talkback events with the incredible writers of the musical and company members.
“Our thanks to the wonderful partners who have made this possible, especially Theatrical Rights Worldwide and our associate producers Birmingham Hippodrome. We’re also immensely grateful to our sponsors PPL PRS and De Montfort University, as well as Arts Council England, Leicester City Council, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Culture Recovery Fund.”
Curve has hosted a number of workshops and Q&As for schools, and home audiences are also able to access a free digital learning pack created by the theatre to accompany the show, as well as a recording of an online Q&A featuring the musical’s writers and company members of The Color Purple – at Home. Curve has also commissioned local artists to create work in response to the production.
As part of its Curve at Home programme, Curve has employed over 150 freelance and local artists, production teams, actors and musicians.
Angela Thomas
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