Black is the color of my voice was written and directed by Apphia Campbell and inspired by the life of American singer, songwriter and civil rights activist Nina Simone. The show has toured the UK and Australia to much acclaim, winning the Best Theatre Award, Adelaide Fringe 2024. It is currently showing for 2 nights at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The Crucible theatre was full for the Friday night showing of this one-woman narrative of ‘Mena Bordeaux’s’ life. The stage setting was a sparsely populated bedsit in which we were trapped together for the 75-minute duration of the show. The wrap around seating and unique styling of the Crucible enabled the audience to feel close to the intimate show, which may be difficult to achieve in a traditional theatre layout.
Despite the basic the set, which remained throughout, there was clever use of the props. The suitcases were unpacked to reveal a dress or letters which helped the visual articulation of the story. The bed itself was mounted as a secondary stage, particularly when recalling her mother’s preachings and childhood advice.
The use of the props and the dipping in and out of lighting from a general wash to individual spotlights is well executed and sets the scene for the story to change direction. The narrative is delivered in a second person dialogue with her much loved and missed father.
Her story begins at the age of 3 when she thought to be a potential piano prodigy by her god-fearing mother. This leads up to the definitive moment of her childhood when she is invited to perform at a concert, but to her dismay her parents aren’t allowed to sit near her because of the colour of their skin. It was a key moment which would define part of the rest of her life.
The narrative turns to womanhood as she turns to ‘the devil’s music’ and explores her adult relationships, which were either regrettably unpursued or abusive. Agonisingly the relationship with her father, the only man she could trust, was affected by lesser relationships.
The storyline inevitably moves towards the civil rights movement in which her music became integral. From out of her suitcase of memories she pulls a treasured award whilst speaking gleefully of how her records were the first thing seized during police raids.
A one-person show is going to rely heavily on that one person and tonight we were in safe hands. The songs were always going to be the highlight- and they were - but Florence Odumosu breathed life into Mena Bordeaux’s character. There were moments of humour mixed with the civil rights backstory alongside her own personal struggles; all were delivered with humour, depth and sensitivity.
The only criticism would be whether 75 minutes was long enough to cover the multiple topics. I would have liked to dissect further both the relationship with her father and her part in the civil rights movement. And I would definitely have liked to have heard more songs.
But if you leave the theatre wanting more then maybe it is job done!
Production run (The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield): Friday 17 – Saturday 18 October 2025
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/black-is-the-color-of-my-voice/dates
Reviewer: Matthew Burgin
On - 17 October
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