Black Power Desk 
Brixton House Theatre 
★★★★

DESCRIBED by writer Urielle Klein-Mekongo as “a musical love letter” to black power activists of the 1970s, this new musical has a raw power that conveys revolutionary gratitude in abundance.

The story is a loose retelling of the story of the Mangrove Nine and their fight for justice against the British state, with sisters Dina (Veronica Carabai) and Celia (Rochelle Rose) navigating the struggle and its heavy ramifications on their personal lives.

Carlton (Gerel Falconer) and his wife Maya (Chante Faucher) are also being, at times literally, put up against the wall by police who are determined to shut down their Harlesden establishment, The Drum.

Their story proves just as engrossing as the sisters, mirroring that of Frank Critchlow, whose Notting Hill restaurant faced similar harassment and galvanised a historic protest movement against racist policing.

Carlton is on one hand tempted by local hard man Colin’s (Fahad Shaft) call for all-out war against the police and on the other lured by the more intellectual vigour of Jarvis (Alexander Bellinfantie) — a timeless activist’s dilemma.

It is a dilemma which in many ways goes to the heart of the show as relationships on all sides begin to crumble under the burdensome weight of a state that resents their very existence — as detailed brilliantly in one of the opening numbers, For Queen & Country.  

Other stand out songs include Is It Because I’m a Woman? and Angry Is My Black which detail the black British experience with zeal, while always maintaining a dash of humour.

Rochelle Rose’s vocals are a treat for audience ears and composer Renell Shaw’s craft is evident in every note with the three-piece band (Daniel Taylor, Tendai Humphrey Sitima and Romarna Campbell) delivering it all in style.

Although the penmanship is not always perfect, with some songs proving a little repetitive and some important plot points skated over, the range of styles from gospel to ska and the sheer radiance with which they are performed makes this well worth a visit to the heart of Brixton, where much of this history is rooted.

Black Power Desk plays at Brixton House Theatre from 1-28 September then touring at Warwick Arts Centre, Lowry and Birmingham Hippodrome. Tickets: https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/