Joyous musical makes its way to London

Adapted from the remarkable 1982 novel by Alice Walker by Pulitzer prize and Tony award winning Marsha Norman, The Color Purple finds room for optimism and joyous musical expression in a tale which tells of great suffering. Set in 1930s in the American Deep South, the evocative, infectious music and lyrics from Grammy winners Brenda Russell, Allee Williams and Stephen Bray has had audiences enraptured since the production's Broadway debut in 2005.

Since then it has been the recipient of a Tony award nomination, and the show has now made its long-awaited transfer to London at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Director John Doyle makes intelligent use of a minimal set to allow the script and songs to take the foreground. The cast of 17 perform the wonderfully bluesy, jazzy music with great gusto, leaving one feeling truly uplifted by the infectious joy this production spreads.

What is The Colour Purple about?

Our protagonist is Celie, a young black girl living in Georgia, USA during the great depression. She is subject to the great intolerances of her age, and we witness her grit her teeth through appallingly tough predicaments to emerge hopeful and determined to give herself a better chance at happiness and opportunity. A true underdog heroine, she must put up a good fight against a society which wishes to beat her down, and audiences everywhere have been willing her on.