Two Midlands theatres are joining up to present an online concert version of their first co-production and 2,000 tickets will be distributed free to NHS workers.
Curve will bring together the 2019 company of The Color Purple to perform again the show which played to sold-out audiences in both Leicester and at Birmingham Hippodrome.
The Color Purple—at Home will be led by T'Shan Williams as Celie with Danielle Fiamanya as Nettie, Karen Mavundukure as Sofia, Ako Mitchell as Mister and Simon Anthony Rhoden as Harpo. Carly Mercedes Dyer will join the cast as Shug Avery. She played Anita in the 2019 production of West Side Story at Curve.
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.
Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the musical will again be directed by Tinuke Craig alongside musical director Alex Parker, designer Alex Lowde, choreographer Mark Smith and sound designer Tom Marshall. The production will be lit by Curve associate Ben Cracknell.
Birmingham Hippodrome's artistic director and chief executive Fiona Allan said, “our audiences loved seeing the production live back in 2019. While we wait until we’re able to reopen our theatres to the public, I'm thrilled we can share this new imagining of The Color Purple with you at home."
Curve's chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster added, "Tinuke Craig's production, filled with hope and resilience, is sure to lift the spirits of all of us in these challenging times.
"Connecting with our communities has never felt more important. Alongside this production there will be a series of talks, educational events and interactive projects. We are also proud to make free tickets available to thank our astonishing NHS workers and their families.”
Tickets for The Color Purple—at Home cost £20 per household and can be booked at the Curve web site. The streamed production which will run from Tuesday 16 February until Sunday 7 March will be available only to audiences in the UK and Ireland.