Nicholle Cherrie believes there’s an element of “it was meant to be” as she steps into the spotlight in the one-woman show Black Is The Color Of My Voice.
Apphia Campbell, who has been performing the piece for the past 11 years, wrote and directed it, but it will be Nicholle who takes the stage in the role at the Theatre
Royal Brighton on Wednesday, September 18; at MAST Southampton on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28; and at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing
on Friday, October 18 – in a show inspired by Nina Simone’s life and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live.
“I watched the performance in 2021,” Nicholle recalls. “I was feeling a little low and didn’t want to leave the home, but my sister said, ‘I’m going to take you to see
this show! I am going to get you out! And she did, and we saw it in an antique hall with a church-like atmosphere. And that was simply wonderful. I recall Apphia
concluding the show and my sister and I sitting in our chairs, dumbfounded. And I remember thinking, “Thank goodness this exists,” while also thinking, “I don’t
know how she does that eight times a week!” But my sister insisted, ‘You can do this!’ I responded ‘No way!’ and now three years later, I’m doing the show!
“Seeing a one-woman show by a black woman was insane, and seeing how she fills the stage was big for me as an actor. I believe her portrayal contains a lot of
honesty and vulnerability, which I’m trying to hold onto and remember as I step into the character myself. It’s about the rawness and being able to truly share.
“I wouldn’t call it a musical, per se. It’s more of a musical experiment, and I’m constantly on the lookout for works that enhance certain sounds. I had never heard
anyone sing with such richness and resonance before. I was highly affected by my parents and the folks I listened to as a child, but I had never heard somebody that
sounded like me – or like the people I admired. So coming full circle now is incredible, especially coming into a production that I admired and now having the
opportunity to truly explore it for myself as a performer. I hope it has the same impact as it had on me when I first saw it. There are numerous reasons why this is
such an important story. The plot revolves around a father-daughter relationship. Apphia penned it as if inspired by Nina Simone, however it is not a direct
description of her life. There are many direct connections, but the character is not Nina Simone per se, and I believe that establishing a Nina Simone adjacent makes
it much easier for people to connect with the character.
“And the topics are really essential. The piece’s themes include wanting equality and having a strong belief in something. Nina Simone and the character in the play
both talk about having a purpose, and it’s about, as black people, daring to dream, going after what you really want, what you’re passionate about, following your
heart and not seeing the boundaries that are placed on you or the labels that are created around you. It’s about being able to forge your own path…
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