Le Gateau Chocolat with In Company Collective Presents BLACK

An intimate and confessional portrait of Nigerian singer Le Gateau Chocolat's life: his hopes, his fears and his battle with depression, performed with the 13-piece Psappha ensemble.

UK Tour 10th Feb - 15th June 2017

Voted by Time Out London as one of its Top 10 Cabaret Stars, Le Gateau Chocolat is a one-man musical phenomenon renowned for his drag shows, his contemporary opera performance and his baritone. He began working as a solo artist in 2011 with a self-titled show that toured the UK, Poland and Australia (including the Sydney Opera House) for three years and was nominated for the 2011 Helpmann Awards (Best Cabaret Performer) and the 2013 Perth Fringe World Cabaret Award. His 2013 solo show Black premiered at Homotopia in Liverpool, went on to have a hugely successful run at London's Soho Theatre, and returned to Liverpool in 2014 with an additional 12 piece orchestra, following rave reviews. He's toured the globe with La Soirée, has performed with Glyndebourne Opera, appeared on The Paul O'Grady Show, sang for the Queen as part of the Jubilee Flotilla, and with Basement Jaxx at the Barbican. Gateau most recently appeared as Balladeer in Rufus Norris & Simon Stephens' The Threepenny Opera at the National Theatre.

The Psappha ensemble reunites with Black for this tour, and this year celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Specialising in the performance of music by living composers and that of the 20th and 21st centuries, Psappha has an extensive and exceptionally varied repertoire of hundreds of works and a reputation for technical assurance and interpretive flair. Psappha specialises in supporting emerging composers, in cross-arts collaboration and in developing new audiences for new music. (www.psappha.com)

In Company Collective work in arts development collaborating with mid-career artists and activists concerned with raising awareness and discussion around taboo issues, such as mental health, assisted suicide, sex, race and ageing. Building resources, contexts and networks, ICC nurture organisations and arts managers, aiming for systemic change towards a more diverse, care-focused and socially conscientious sector. Current In Company Collective artists are Liz Carr, Split Britches, Le Gateau Chocolat and Brian Lobel. They also produce The Sick of the Fringe, mapping work across all platforms which engages with arts and health.

www.legateauchocolat.com

www.incompanycollective.com

10 - 11 February Contact, Manchester (part of Queer Contact Festival 2017)
Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA
8.30pm | £20 full, £15 conc
www.contactmcr.com | 0161 274 0600

18 February The Sick of the Fringe, London
Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
8pm | £10
www.thesickofthefringe.com

4 - 8 April Theatre Royal Stratford East, London
Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN
8pm | £10 - £18
www.stratfordeast.com | 020 8534 0310

Supported by a Wellcome Trust People Award. Developed and produced by In Company Collective.

Black was originally commissioned by homotopia and created with funding from Arts Council England and support from Pink Fringe, Nightingale Theatre and Colchester Arts Centre.

Manchester performances supported by Superbia and Richmond Tea Rooms.