Black Is the Colour of My Voice at Trafalgar Studios

Nina Simone inspired countless artists and musicians including Adele, Mos Def and Beyonce, Elton John even named one of his pianos after her. The high priestess of soul possessed a one-of-a-kind talent and wrote passionate lyrics that spoke for the civil rights movement and touched the hearts of millions, including New York singer, actress and writer Apphia Campbell, who fell in love with this diva’s unique sound and story. Thus, Black Is the Colour of My Voice​ began.​

The memories of Eunice, as she tries to feel and reconnect to her late father, are fundamentally correct; however, for this one-woman masterpiece of tribute and creativity she calls herself Mina Bordeaux, also a child prodigy who dreamt of being a classical concert pianist until she succumbed to the freedom of the devil’s music and couldn’t let her parents know. So Mina B (aka Nina S) was born. 

Nina’s manager, Andrew, becomes Arthur, but one still feels every pound of her future husband’s rage on the night of their engagement and his abusive tone throughout their marriage rings out, along with Mina’s incredible voice (which, thankfully, never tries to impersonate Miss Simone) roaring from her own gut then dancing with the dragonflies, artfully expressing the fury and fragility of Nina’s eclectic repertoire. 

This intimate play, skilfully directed by Arran Hawkins and Nate Jacobs, has deeply personal and painful moments but Campbell brings to her character and conversations an infectious childlike joy as she takes us through her emotional three-day cleanse. With just Mina herself and basic props from a box, this inventive production is utterly spellbinding and never misses a beat from start to finish or feels lacking (the way the performer uses the lights, her bed and the television are particularly resourceful).

Black Is the Colour of My Voice has understandably been selling out venues and wowing audiences across the globe and now it lands for a limited four-week run at Trafalgar Studios 2. Witness the glory of Apphia’s visceral and vibrant homage to one of the world’s most revered artists. 

Laura Jorden

Black Is the Colour of My Voice is at Trafalgar Studios from 5^th February until 2^nd March 2019. Book your tickets here.

Read our review of Soul Sessions here.