Adrian Lester stars in Red Velvet, Lolita Chakrabarti’s new play based on the inspiring true story of Ira Aldridge.

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, how will the cast, critics and audience react to the revolution taking place in the theatre?

Best known for playing Michael Stone in BBC TV series Hustle, Lester was most recently seen on stage in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Novello theatre. His other stage credits include Hamlet at the Young Vic, Sweeney Todd at the National Theatre and Company at the Donmar Warehouse for which he won an Olivier Award.

Chakrabarti is an actress and writer whose previous writing credits include Last Seen – Joy for the Almeida theatre. As an actress, her credits include The Great Game: Afghanistan, Free Outgoing and John Gabriel Borkman on stage, and Outnumbered, Waking The Dead and The Bill on screen.

Red Velvet is directed by the Tricycle theatre’s new Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham.