Black Power Desk

Description

An Original Musical, World Premiere.

1970s London.
The streets awash with a fever of political unrest, the rhythm of the sound system culture is birthing a new era of soulful lover’s rock, fusing RnB and reggae, amidst the covert Black Power Desk operations of New Scotland Yard. As tensions rise, the community rallies together to stand against injustices and racial divide.

“The day you were born Black was the day politics was made your thing.”

~~BLACK~~ POWER ~~DESK~~ is a powerful reimagining and exploration of what it means to love and fight for freedom. In an often male-dominated world, two sisters, Celia and Dina – both rooted in self-empowerment and fiercely committed to their community, both loyal and motivated by love – are divided by grief and radical politics.

A moving story of sisters who need to reconnect for the sake of their community. But will the fight for their community be worth the damage to their sisterhood?

Inspired by the historic Mangrove Nine and other influential activists and brought to life by an original score performed by a live three-piece band, ~~BLACK~~ POWER ~~DESK~~ is a musical soundtrack charting a fiercely emotive and politically charged era of often overlooked British history for today’s generation. At a time of the rise of British Black Panthers, the onset of the Immigration Act 1971, the emergence of Black business ownership and the hails of a generation living through the racial tensions of Great Britain.

“Don’t let it be for nothing so breathe and don’t ask permission.”

~~BLACK~~ POWER ~~DESK~~ transports you back to the 1970s, premiering at Brixton House, London this Autumn 2025. Written by the critically acclaimed team of Urielle Klein-Mekongo (Roundhouse, The Bush, The Old Vic), Gerel Falconer (Tones, HighRise, Stage Debut nominee) and Renell Shaw (Ivor Novello Award, Rudimental), directed by Gbolahan Obisesan (Young Vic, The Bush, Royal Court) with dramaturgy by Gail Babb. Other creatives include Natalie Pryce, Tony Gayle and Jessica Cabassa.

~~BLACK~~ POWER ~~DESK~~ is generously supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, Axis and L&Q.

Development supported by Birmingham Hippodrome, Brixton House, China Plate, Genesis Foundation, Hackney Empire, Mercury Musical Developments, Musical Theatre Network, Old Vic 12, PlayWell Productions, Stage One Bursary Scheme for New Producers, 1927, and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Content warnings

Strong language, racialised slurs, potential depiction of violence, suggested sexual assault.

Urielle Klein-Mekongo Book, Lyrics and Composition

Urielle is a writer, theatre maker, singer/songwriter and performer. After first entering training via the National Youth Theatre’s Playing Up course in 2013, she went on to study Acting and Contemporary Theatre at East 15 where she graduated in 2017. Urielle premiered Yvette, her first professional outing as a writer-performer, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017, and went on to tour the show nationally in 2018 and 2019. Urielle was nominated for ‘Best Actress in a Play’ at The Stage Debut Awards 2019 for her performance in Yvette, and the show won the Young Harts Writing Fest Audience Favourite 2017, Kings Head Theatre Stella Wilkie Award 2017 and The East15 Pulse Award 2017. In 2019 Urielle became part of the Old Vic 12 where she began developing ~~BLACK~~ POWER ~~DESK~~, a new UK Black British musical with an original score of rap, reggae, soul and R&B that shines a light on a rarely explored part of Black British history. Other credits include January 22nd (BBC2/HBO), Swipe (The Arcola with NYT) and Three Sisters (East 15). She is currently developing Trash, a dark, musical comedy about sugar daddy life, produced by China Plate.

Gerel Falconer Lyrics and Rapperturgy

Gerel Falconer is an award winning actor, published writer, rapper, rapperturg and award winning lyricist.

As a writer, Gerel specialises in fusing theatre with UK Hip-Hop, Grime and UK Drill music. This unique style of writing has earnt him the title of Rapperturg.

Gerel Falconer is the winner of the BBTAs 2023 Book And Lyrics Award presented at The National Theatre.

He completed the CertHE and BA Acting course at East 15 Acting School, where he won the 2012 Lilian Bayliss Award.

Representation of the socially disenfranchised is at the forefront of Gerel’s work. After creating the critically acclaimed Tones A Hip-Hop Opera Gerel became co-artistic director of Wound Up Theatre.

He is a also an associate artist at Highrise Entertainment resulting in him being a part of delivery teams working in partnership with venues/organisations including We are Spotlight, Centre Point & Arts depot, working with young people across London.

Gerel’s theatre credits include: Tones (Brixton House, Edinburgh Fringe), UK Drill Project (Barbican), Alice In Wonderland (Brixton House), Lil.Miss.Lady (Roundhouse, HighTide), Black Power Desk (Brixton House, Old Vic 12).

Renell Shaw Music and Composition

Ivor Novello award winning composer, songwriter and music producer Renell Shaw has a wealth of experience in a range of musical genres with some of the music industry’s most unique and sought-after artists.

One of his longest running affiliations is with the multi platinum band ‘Rudimental’ as a close writer and multi-instrumentalist, both in the studio and throughout their landmark shows.

Renell has collaborated with successful artists such as: Anne-Marie, Nile Rogers, Emeli Sande, Jess Glynne, Skepta, Speech Debelle, Maverick Sabre, Carleen Anderson, DJ Spinall, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Orphy Robinson MBE, Nitin Sawhney CBE and The House Gospel Choir.

2020 was the year that Renell gained widespread recognition and won an Ivor Novello Award for his composition ‘The Windrush Suite’. The first of a two-part collection that he has written, pays homage to his Caribbean heritage and the pioneering voices of the Windrush generation who began to arrive in England from the West Indies in 1948. ‘The Windrush Suite’ bears all the hallmarks of Renell’s ability to musically emulate and offer tribute to profound moments, people and feelings.

Renell co-created the Soulful House/Afro Soul project 2fox. With over 15 million streams and350,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, 2fox continue to connect their global audience with some of the UK’s most exciting, up and coming and established artists such as: Afronaut Zu, Hamzaa, Liam Bailey, Sophia Thakur, Rosey Chan and Laville.

Renell has a long standing career in the world of drama and musical theatre, working as a Composer, Musical Director, Arranger and Actor-Musician.

Gbolahan Obisesan Director

Gbolahan Obisesan, oversaw the Capital build relocation of Ovalhouse Theatre and opened Brixton House as Artistic Director & Joint CEO. Gbolahan had prior been Associate Director/Genesis Fellow at the Young Vic Theatre.

Theatre credits includes: THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (Sheffield Crucible Theatre);RANDOM (Leeds Playhouse); YVETTE (China Plate); CUTTIN IT-Olivier Nominated(Young Vic, Sheffield Crucible, Birmingham Rep, Yard Theatre, Royal Court); HOWNIGERIA BECAME: A STORY AND A SPEAR THAT DIDN’T WORK (Unicorn Theatre); WEARE PROUD TO PRESENT….(Bush Theatre); MAD ABOUT THE BOY (Edinburgh Festivaland UK tour).

Gbolahan was dramaturg on 2023 Olivier Award winning, Best New Dance, TRAPLORD. Gbolahan was one of the six writers on the critically acclaimed FEAST, commissioned by the Royal Court and The Young Vic for World Stages London. Gbolahan has also successfully adapted PIGEON ENGLISH (Bristol Old Vic /Edinburgh Festival);and THE FISHERMEN (Home, Edinburgh Festival, Arcola, Trafalgar Studios) both winning Fringe First Award and The Stage Ensemble Award respectively.

Other directing credits include: SUS (Young Vic and UK tour-Jerwood Award for directing) EYE/BALLS (Soho Theatre) HOLD IT UP (Soho theatre) and he was Director in Residence at the National Theatre Studio, and Associate Director on the FELA!,COMEDY OF ERRORS & DEATH & the KINGS HORSEMAN (National Theatre) and JULIUS CEASAR (RSC).

Gail Babb Dramaturg

Gail Babb is an award-winning theatre maker who specialises in new writing, devising and experiments with form. She has created shows for theatres, found sites – including museums, swimming pools and a derelict school – as well as national and international touring.

As a director and dramaturg, she has worked with Fuel, Brixton House, Royal Exchange Manchester, Soho Theatre and Hackney Showroom. Recent credits include, as director, Please Do Not Touch by Casey Bailey (China Plate/Belgrade Theatre), STARS by Mojisola Adebayo (OFFIE’s Best New Play 2024 – Tamasha/ICA), BODIES by Ray Young (Unlimited/Southbank Centre) and as co-creator, The Body Remembers (Heather Agyepong/Fuel) and Run it Back (Talawa).

In 2021, Gail won the Kenneth Tynan Award for Excellence in Dramaturgy and was named one of Alfred Fagon Awards’ 25 Black Champions of Theatre. Gail also facilitates creative processes in community settings and co-directs the MA in Applied Theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Natalie Pryce Set Designer

Jessica Cabassa Costume Designer

Prema Mehta Lighting Designer

Tony Gayle Sound Designer

Jade Hackett Movement Director

Sian Clare Costume Supervisor

Rochelle Ross as Celia

Rochelle Rose is a compelling stage and screen performer whose work spans classical and contemporary repertoire. Her theatre credits include Untitled Fck Mss S**gon (Young Vic), Rockets and Blue Lights (National Theatre/Royal Exchange), salt. (Royal Court), The Ridiculous Darkness (Gate Theatre), and The Mountaintop (UK Tour).

She has also brought joy to family audiences in pantomimes like Cinderella and Aladdin (Oxford Playhouse) and performed in The Winter’s Tale (Orange Tree Theatre). Screen roles include The Witcher (Netflix), Death in Paradise and Lawful Killing (BBC One), with film appearances in Boxing Day (Film 4) and Ear for Eye (BBC Films).

Veronica Carabai as Dina

Veronica Carabai is a London-born actor of Caribbean descent with a two-decade career across theatre, musical theatre, and screen. She has trained with institutions including Negus, Rose Bruford College, Identity School of Acting, and The Salon Collective. Veronica has worked with the BBC, Sky Arts, Sweet Patootee Arts, Royal Court, Edinburgh Festival, National Theatre, and VAULT Festival.

Passionate about lifelong learning and community-led work, she is proud to help bring Black Power Desk to life as both performer and collaborator.

Chanté Faucher as Maya

Chanté Faucher trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has since built a bold and exciting theatre and screen career. Stage credits include A Tale of Us (Brixton House/UK Tour), Under The Sun (Royal Court), Splintered (Soho Theatre), and Cinderella (Oldham Coliseum). On screen, she has featured in Netflix’s KAOS, For Life, and the short film I, Dido. Chanté’s work often centres stories with heart and edge, making her one to watch.

Gerel Falconer as Carlton

Gerel Falconer is an award-winning actor, writer, lyricist, and “rapperturg” – a term coined to reflect his distinctive style of merging theatre with UK Hip-Hop, Grime and Drill. A graduate of East 15 Acting School, he received the Lilian Baylis Award and went on to win the BBTAs 2023 Book and Lyrics Award for his work.

As co-artistic director of Wound Up Theatre and an associate artist at Highrise Entertainment, Gerel’s work amplifies the voices of the socially disenfranchised. His theatre credits include Tones (Brixton House, Edinburgh Fringe), UK Drill Project (Barbican), Alice In Wonderland (Brixton House), and Lil.Miss.Lady (Roundhouse, HighTide).

Fahad Shaft as Colin

Fahad Shaft is a multifaceted South London actor, mentor, and workshop facilitator. He’s appeared in acclaimed screen productions such as Silo (Apple TV) and The Witcher (Netflix), but remains deeply committed to live performance and community outreach. Most recently, he performed in Tower of London (Camden Fringe) and toured the UK with Little Miss Lady as Blanka.

As a founding member of Highrise Entertainment, Fahad has facilitated workshops in pupil referral units, prisons, and youth settings across the country, using theatre as a tool for social connection and empowerment.

Tomos Eames as Jack

Tomos Eames is a Welsh actor and singer-songwriter from Cardiff. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, with additional training at MXAT in Moscow. Fluent in Welsh, Tomos has brought powerful performances to Welsh stages in productions like Trwy’r Ddinas Hon (Sherman Theatre), Rape of the Fair Country and Spirit of the Mimosa (Theatre Clwyd), and Deffro’r Gwanwyn (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru).

His screen credits include Resistance (Big Rich Films), Spotless (Netflix), Siblings (BBC3), Shakespeare and Hathaway (BBC), and the upcoming Lost Boys and Fairies (Duck Soup). As a musician, he blends blues and American folk influences under his own name.

Alexander Bellinfantie as Jarvis

Alexander Bellinfantie is a graduate of ArtsEd’s BA Acting programme. With a strong foundation in classical and contemporary theatre, his credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the UK tour of Coming to England. On screen, he’s appeared in My Bloody Galentine for Benattar/Thomas Productions and in Sweetpea (Sky), bringing sensitivity and range to each role.

Casey Bird as Officer Marks

Casey Bird trained at The London School of Musical Theatre, where they were awarded the Jeannie Harris Performers Cup in recognition of their talent. Casey has portrayed a range of dynamic roles including Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Bridewell Theatre), Maureen Johnson in Rent (Frogmore Papermill), and Tabatha in Mega (Tristan Bates Theatre).

Casey’s additional work spans pantomime, concert performances in Godspell (Lyric Shaftesbury Avenue), and screen appearances including the music video Midpoint (Tom Chaplin) and commercial work for InvestEngine.

Alan Drake as Officer Pullen

Alan Drake is a seasoned stage and screen actor, trained at LAMDA. His television credits include fan favourites such as Peaky Blinders, Call The Midwife, Doctors, and Emmerdale, as well as The Amazing Dermot and Little Miss Jocelyn. On stage, he’s brought depth and charisma to roles in productions including To Kill A Mockingbird (Gielgud Theatre, West End), The Railway Children (King’s Cross Theatre), Fen and Far Away (Sheffield Crucible), and Kissing Sid James (Jermyn Street Theatre and 59E59 New York).

1 September-28 September

1970s London. Two sisters divided by grief and radical politics, motivated by love but will their fight for the community be worth the damage to their sisterhood?

A Brixton House and PlayWell Productions co-production, in association with Birmingham Hippodrome and Lowry

Description

Content warnings

Performances