The Olivier nominated production of Lolita Chakrabarti’s play returns to the Tricycle theatre prior to its New York transfer, with Olivier Award winner Adrian Lester reprising his role as Ira Aldridge.

Set at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1833, Red Velvet tells the story of a young black American actor who takes over the role of Othello after Edmund Kean, who was originally performing as Shakespeare’s powerful general, collapses on stage. As members of the public riot in the streets, no one knows how the cast, critics and audience will react to the revolution taking place in the theatre.

Best known for his long-running role as Michael Stone in Hustle, Lester won critical acclaim for his role as Othello in the National Theatre’s production that opened in April 2013. His other theatre credits include Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Novello theatre, Hamlet at the Young Vic, Sweeney Todd at the National Theatre and Company at the Donmar Warehouse.

Directed by the Tricycle theatre’s Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham, the production’s cast also includes Natasha Gordon, Charlotte Lucas and Eugene O’Hare.

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 received its world premiere at the Tricycle theatre in 2012 and went on to receive and Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, with Chakrabarti taking home the accolade for Most Promising Playwright at 2012’s Evening Standard Awards.