Red Velvet
By Lolita Chakrabarti. Radio version of the Tricycle Theatre's award-winning production about the first black actor to play Othello. Starring Adrian Lester.
by Lolita Chakrabarti.
Adrian Lester stars in a radio version of the Tricycle Theatre's award-winning production, directed by Indhu Rubasingham, about the first black actor of note to play Othello.
The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 1833. Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his generation, has collapsed on stage whilst playing Othello. A young black American actor has been asked to take over the role. But as the public riot in the streets over the abolition of slavery, how will the cast, critics and audience react to the revolution taking place in the theatre?
Imagined experiences based on the true story of Ira Aldridge.
Lolita Chakrabarti won Most Promising Playwright at The Evening Standard Awards and the Critics' Circle Awards after the 2012 run of Red Velvet at The Tricycle. Adrian Lester's performance earned him the Best Actor Award at the Critics' Circle Awards.
Music by Paul Englishby
Directed by Indhu Rubasingham
Studio Production by Anne Bunting, Keith Graham and Mike Etherden
Produced by Abigail le Fleming
Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning.
Last on
More episodes
![]()
Red Velvet - Rediscovering Ira Aldridge
![]()
Red Velvet at the Tricycle Theatre
![]()
Ira Aldridge as Othello, by James Northcote (1826). Photo: Manchester Art Galleries
![]()
An article about the original stage production at London's Tricycle theatre
![]()
Film by the National Theatre
Clip
-
![]()
Adrian Lester talks about Ira Aldridge
Duration: 01:01
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Ira Aldridge | Adrian Lester |
| Ellen | Charlotte Lucas |
| Pierre | Eugene O'Hare |
| Charles | Oliver Ryan |
| Halina | Rachel Finnegan |
| Betty | Rachel Finnegan |
| Margaret | Rachel Finnegan |
| Terence | Simon Chandler |
| Bernard | Simon Chandler |
| Henry | Nic Jackman |
| Casimir | Nic Jackman |
| Connie | Natasha Gordon |
| Director | Indhu Rubasingham |
| Producer | Abigail le Fleming |
| Writer | Lolita Chakrabarti |
Broadcasts
- Sat 19 Jul 2014 14:30±«Óãtv Radio 4 FM
- Sat 8 Aug 2015 14:30±«Óãtv Radio 4
Drama of the Week Podcast
Download a new drama from Radio 4 or Radio 3 every week.
