Red Velvet
A history-making production of Othello in 1833 will shock London audiences and reverberate through history to influence theatre today. Red Velvet, by Lolita Chakrabarti, takes audiences backstage to witness the London debut of the trailblazing African-American actor Ira Aldridge as Shakespeare’s tragic Venetian general. He was the first man of color to play the role at an influential European theatre. Based on a true story, the play captures the emotion of the times and the drama both on stage and off surrounding this revolution in the theatre.