Picture: Pamela Raith
Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome’s hit production of The Color Purple will visit seven venues across England and Wales this autumn.
Directed by Tinuke Craig and originally staged in 2019, the award-winning production which was also re-worked as a concert presentation and successful online event during lockdown will take to the road from 13 September 2022 with an opening run at the Birmingham Hippodrome (until 17 September).
Following the production’s return visit to Birmingham, the critically acclaimed co-production will then visit Theatre Royal Plymouth (27 September to 1 October), Royal & Derngate Northampton (4 to 8 October), The Lowry in Salford (11 to 15 October), Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff (18 to 22 October), Mayflower Theatre Southampton (25 to 29 October), finishing its run at Norwich Theatre Royal (1 to 5 November).
Announcing the tour dates Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said: “Tinuke Craig’s exquisite production of The Color Purple goes from strength to strength and we are thrilled it will embark on a UK tour this autumn following a hugely successful run at Curve and at Birmingham Hippodrome in 2019.
“This marks the first time The Color Purple has toured UK venues and we are thrilled audiences across the country will be able to experience this incredible story and the power of this beautiful, life-affirming musical.
“Huge thanks to our friends at Theatrical Rights Worldwide and Arts Council England, who have been instrumental in making it possible for Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome to tour our award-winning, critically acclaimed production.”
Commenting on behalf of Arts Council England, area director Peter Knott said: “It’s fantastic that so many more people will have the opportunity to see The Color Purple when the show tours the country later this year. This National Lottery investment through the Arts Council greatly widens opportunities to see the show, and we hope as many people as possible get that chance – from Plymouth to Northampton and beyond.
“As theatres welcome audiences back through their doors this year, we are proud to champion the role creativity plays in bringing people together, boosting wellbeing and helping the country to recover.”
Chris Sudworth, director of artistic programme at Birmingham Hippodrome, added: “After a phenomenal response from our audiences in 2019, we are delighted to be opening our exceptional co-production – made with our friends and partners at Curve – here at Birmingham Hippodrome in September. This first UK tour of The Color Purple is another step in the Hippodrome’s commitment to creating bold, relevant work at large scale that speaks to our city and the UK today.”
Details of Craig’s creative team and the full cast will be announced at a later date.
Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome’s 2019 co-production starred T’Shan Williams in the pivotal role of Celie with then recent graduate Danielle Fiamanya giving a Stage Debut Award-winning performance as Celie’s sister, Nettie.
Last year, the duo reprised their performances alongside a number of original cast members and newcomer Carly Mercedes Dyer for director Craig and musical director Alex Parker’s re-worked concert version of the show. The digital presentation The Color Purple – at Home was streamed by over 20,000 people (based on households averaging 2.5 people) in the UK and Ireland.
Based on Alice Walker’s 1983 Pulitzer prize-winning novel, the musical was adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Marsha Norman and Grammy Award winners Allee Willis, Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray. The original Broadway production ran from 2005 to 2008 and was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning one for LaChanze who played the central role of Celie.
The show’s London debut came with the critically-acclaimed 2013 Menier Chocolate Factory production which starred Cynthia Erivo as Celie. Erivo reprised the role when the production transferred to Broadway and collected the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. The production which also featured Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson making her stage debut as Shug won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
Angela Thomas
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