REVIEW | The Color Purple UK Tour

Manuel Harlan

The Color Purple, UK Tour
Birmingham Hippodrome
★★★★★

Written by Clare Tooth.

Every so often a show comes along that will remain with you for a while, whether in the mind or soul it is always there to give you comfort and hope. For me, one of these is The Color Purple is one of these. I was lucky enough to see this show in 2019 as part of the collaboration between the Birmingham Hippodrome and Curve, Leicester. When it was announced that the same production, with most of the original creatives would be returning for a seven venue UK Tour, running until early November 2022 I jumped at the chance to be reunited with this production.

The show, based on the novel by Alice Walker, was created by Marsha Norman, Allee Willis, Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray and tells the heartbreaking, hard-hitting but empowering story of the central character Celie, who goes through so much during her journey in the show including childhood pregnancy, rape and abuse from her father and later husband, known mostly as Mister. 

However, she discovers the power she has within thanks to the amazing women she finds in her life, from her sister Nettie to the fiercely independent Sofia and through the love she finds with the glamourous singer Shug Avery and also in herself.

Me’Sha Bryan takes on the role of Celie this time and was incredible as she takes the audience along with her, making you feel all that she is going through culminating in her big moment in Act Two “I’m Here”, which left the audience with goosebumps and teary eyes.

Bryan is joined by other new cast members Bree Smith as Shug Avery, Aaliyah Zhane as Nettie, Ahmed Hamad as Harpo and Jimand Allotey, who is making her professional stage debut as Squeak.

Manuel Harlan

Manuel Harlan

Completing the cast was the amazing ensemble of Kyle Birch, Kayla Carter, Joshua Clemetson, Esme Laudat, DeeArna McLean, Monifa James, Nathaniel Morrison, Alex Okoampa and Neil Patterson who all shone. The talent on stage was clear to see and you can see how much it truly means to each and every cast member on that stage as demonstrated in the movement during the finale of the show The Color Purple (Reprise).

Creatively, a lot of the names from 2019 production return. Direction by Tinuke Craig wih revival direction by Lakesha Arie-Angelo and Musical Supervision by Alex Parker. The wonderful choreography by the amazing Mark Smith shone out again, with big numbers such as Push the Button making you want to get up and join in. 

Alex Lowde’s cleverly simplistic set design worked perfectly alongside Joshua Pharo’s lighting and video design, which uses clever projections help to move the story through Celie’s life.

Returning cast from the 2019 run include Ako Mitchell as Mister, Anelisa Lamola as Sofia, KM Drew Boateng as Pa, Rosemary Annabella Nkruma as Darlene and Karen Mavundukure as Doris/Alternate Celie. It was lovely to see them perform again, some in different roles but all brilliant just the same.

This show is one that stays with you for a long time, leaving you with a warm heart and a teary eye. A must-see over the next seven weeks in Plymouth, Northampton, Salford, Cardiff, Southampton and Norwich.