Black Is the Color of My Voice at the Duchess Theatre, London

A woman sits at a piano. She has buried her father and she is looking back. What follows is one of the most powerful pieces of solo theatre on the London stage right now. Black Is the Color of My Voice, written and performed by Apphia Campbell, is inspired by the extraordinary life of Nina Simone, the singer, pianist and civil rights activist who became one of the most important voices of the 20th century. This critically acclaimed production plays at the Duchess Theatre in London's West End for a strictly limited run from 12 January to 2 March 2026.

What Is Black Is the Color of My Voice About?

The play follows a successful singer and activist reflecting on the journey that shaped her. From a childhood as a gifted piano prodigy in the American South, destined for a life in the service of the church, to her transformation into a jazz icon and one of the loudest voices in the Civil Rights Movement. When her father dies, she is forced to confront the losses, the battles and the moments that defined her. Woven through the story are live performances of some of Nina Simone's most recognisable songs, from I Loves You Porgy and Feeling Good to Four Women and Mississippi Goddam. The music isn't decoration. It carries the weight of every scene.

Apphia Campbell: Writer and Performer

Apphia Campbell wrote Black Is the Color of My Voice in 2013 and has been performing it to audiences around the world ever since. She is originally from the United States and trained at Florida International University. The show premiered in Shanghai before touring to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it sold out, and has since played to standing ovations in New York, across the UK and in Australia. Campbell made her West End debut with this production at Trafalgar Studios in 2019. She also directs the piece. Her other credits include Woke, which won a Scotsman Fringe First and a commendation from Amnesty International, and commissions for the BBC and the National Theatre of Scotland.

Black Is the Color of My Voice Reviews and Awards

The production won the Best Theatre Award at Adelaide Fringe 2024, along with Pick of the Week honours in both 2023 and 2024. Critics have been consistently enthusiastic. The Times gave it four stars and praised its moving depiction of determination and survival. Broadway Baby awarded five stars, and Edinburgh Festival Magazine highlighted its compelling storytelling punctuated by bursts of song. This is a show that has earned its reputation through years of touring and standing ovations, not hype.

Duchess Theatre, West End London

The Duchess Theatre is one of the West End's most intimate venues, seating around 494 across Stalls and Dress Circle. Built in 1929, it has an Art Deco interior and a compact auditorium that makes every seat feel close to the action. For a solo show like this, the intimacy is a real asset. You can hear every note and catch every expression. The theatre is on Catherine Street near Covent Garden, a short walk from Covent Garden station on the Piccadilly line and Temple station on the District and Circle lines.

Book Black Is the Color of My Voice Tickets

This is a limited West End run at one of London's most characterful theatres. If you love Nina Simone, powerful solo performance or theatre that leaves the audience on its feet, don't wait. Book your Black Is the Color of My Voice tickets on tickadoo.