Apphia Campbell to Bring BLACK IS THE COLOUR OF MY VOICE to Gilded Balloon, Aug 1-25

Black is the Color Of My Voice is a one-woman show inspired by the story of singing legend Nina Simone, written and performed by Shanghai based singer and actress, Apphia Campbell. This theatre piece with music will be performed at Gilded Balloon (Billiard Room) from Friday 1 - Monday 25 August, 14.20 (15.20 ends).

The show follows a jazz musician and civil rights activist called 'Mena Bordeaux' as she undergoes a spiritual cleansing following the untimely death of her father. During a three-day period of isolation without cigarettes, alcohol, or access to the outside world, Mena reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.

Black is the Color Of My Voice premiered in Shanghai, in May 2013 and returned by popular demand in October 2013. The production also performed at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York.

Apphia Campbell is originally from Florida, USA. She was one of the founding members of an award winning 10 year old theatre company called, 'West Coast Black Theatre Troupe'. The company won the people's choice Curtain Call award for 2011's best musical 'Marvin Gaye: The Man and his Music' and the 2011 Handy Award by Herald-Tribune's drama critic Jay Handleman for 'Five Guys Named Moe'. Apphia moved to New York performing in regional theatres and off-Broadway. In 2009, she moved to Shanghai, China where she has been singing blues, jazz, and pop in venues such as The Cotton Club, Park Hyatt, Le Meridian Hotel, and JZ music festivals. In 2012 she formed Play The Spotlight Theatre Company(PTS), a theatre company that focuses on new works and musical pieces. Apphia also wrote and produced a a modern day Motown Christmas story called 'Josephina's Holiday' and starred in 'No Exit' for Blue Lane Theatre. Black is the Color Of My Voice is directed by Arran Hawkins, his previous work as an actor includes performing with 'Grinning Gargoyle Theatre Company' in Cornwall and working on award winning short films.

Listings Information: Black is the Color of My Voice will be performed from Friday 1 - Monday 25 August (previews Wednesday 30, Thursday 31 July, no performance on Wednesday 13 August). Show starts at 14.20 (15.20 ends). Gilded Balloon: Venue 14 (Billiard Room). Tickets are £9/£8.50 weekday and £10/£9 weekends. Box office - 0131 622 6552, Teviot Row House, 13 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AJ. For further information, log on to playthespotlight.tumblr.com.