“Red Velvet” by Lolita Chakrabarti tells the true story of Ira Aldridge, the first Black man to play Othello in London in 1833. This stirring drama transports audiences to the turbulent backstage world of London’s Theatre Royal in the early 1800s.

Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his generation, can’t go on as Othello, and his company is in disarray. A young American actor named Ira Aldridge arrives to step into the role—but no black man has ever played Othello on the English stage. His groundbreaking performance upends stage tradition and changes the lives of everyone involved.

Lolita Chakrabarti’s multi-award-winning play uncovers the fascinating true story of a pivotal figure in theatre history.