Black Power Desk Review: The Next Big British Musical
- London Theatre Doc
- Sep 6
- 3 min read
★★★★★
Every so often, a new British musical bursts onto the stage with the power to change the landscape. Black Power Desk is one of those rare productions. Urgent, unflinching, and brimming with heart.
Set in London during the Black Liberation Movement of the 1960s and 70s, Urielle Klein-Mekongo’s book and lyrics follow the friends, family, and activists who gather at The Drum, a community hub and safe space. At The Drum, they face systemic racism, police brutality, misogyny, and the struggle between peaceful protest and militancy. The story never shies away from hard truths, yet it pulses with love, solidarity, and resilience.
At the centre is Dina (Veronica Carabai), a fierce and eloquent leader navigating both the political fight for equality and the strain on her personal relationships. Rochelle Rose is mesmerising as her sister Cece, layering strength with vulnerability and commanding the stage with magnetic presence. Her performance is one of the show’s emotional anchors, culminating in an 11 o’clock number that is beautifully delivered and deeply affecting.
Her romantic counterpart Jack, played with awkward charm and quiet intensity by Tomos Eames, adds intrigue and tension. Their interracial relationship, tender yet fraught, is charged with the political realities of the world around them.
Gerel Falconer and Chante Faucher bring warmth and complexity as Carlton and Maya, owners of The Drum. Faucher’s raw honesty in a harrowing police abuse scene leaves the audience shaken. The antagonists, most notably Alan Drake as Officer Pullen, are chillingly effective. His presence provokes genuine unease, a mark of sharp writing and performance.
The music, composed by Renell Shaw with lyrics co-written with Falconer, is a vibrant tapestry of Black musical traditions. Reggae, ska, calypso, rap, soul, and grime weave together into a score that feels both celebratory and defiant. Songs like “Is It Because I’m a Woman?” and “What Does That Say About Me” showcase sharp storytelling and stylistic range. Cece’s 11 o’clock number, though stirring, feels as if the score reins her in just before she can unleash her full power. It is a reminder of how much more Rose has to give. The finale, “Keep on Breathing,” is not just a closing number but a rallying cry. A thunderous release of anger, hope, and resilience that floods the stage and refuses to let go. It is a musical embodiment of resistance that sends you out of the theatre charged with its energy.
Throughout the evening there are jaw-dropping twists and moments of sheer theatrical power, the kind that leave an audience collectively holding its breath. Black Power Desk knows when to shock, when to hurt, and when to uplift. The result is unforgettable.
Directed by Gbolahan Obisesan, the production draws its audience in as participants. At times you are seated in meetings. At others you are swept into protests. This immediacy makes the show feel less like conventional theatre and more like living history. It is raw, unflinching, and necessary.
Black Power Desk is a remarkable achievement. A musical that entertains, educates, and confronts while honouring a vital chapter of Black British history too often overlooked. With its thrilling mix of history, artistry, and urgency, Black Power Desk is not only the next big British musical. It is a landmark in the making.
Production - Black Power Desk
Theatre - Brixton House
Tickets available https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/shows/black-power-desk/
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