Black Power Desk

"Deserves a West End transfer.” ★★★★★ (What's On Stage)

"A seamless blend of gripping narrative, complex characters, and powerful music." ★★★★★ (Unmissable Theatre)

An Original Musical, World Premiere.

1970s London.
The streets awash with a fever of political unrest, the rhythm of the sound system culture is birthing a new era of soulful lover’s rock, fusing RnB and reggae, amidst the covert Black Power Desk operations of New Scotland Yard. As tensions rise, the community rallies together to stand against injustices and racial divide.

“The day you were born Black was the day politics was made your thing.”

Black Power Desk is a powerful reimagining and exploration of what it means to love and fight for freedom. In an often male-dominated world, two sisters, Celia and Dina – both rooted in self-empowerment and fiercely committed to their community, both loyal and motivated by love – are divided by grief and radical politics.

A moving story of sisters who need to reconnect for the sake of their community. But will the fight for their community be worth the damage to their sisterhood?

Inspired by the historic Mangrove Nine and other influential activists and brought to life by an original score performed by a live three-piece band, Black Power Desk is a musical soundtrack charting a fiercely emotive and politically charged era of often overlooked British history for today’s generation. At a time of the rise of British Black Panthers, the onset of the Immigration Act 1971, the emergence of Black business ownership and the hails of a generation living through the racial tensions of Great Britain.

“Don’t let it be for nothing so breathe and don’t ask permission.”

Black Power Desk transports you back to the 1970s, premiering at Brixton House, London this Autumn 2025. Written by the critically acclaimed team of Urielle Klein-Mekongo (Roundhouse, The Bush, The Old Vic), Gerel Falconer (Tones, HighRise, Stage Debut nominee) and Renell Shaw (Ivor Novello Award, Rudimental), directed by Gbolahan Obisesan (Young Vic, The Bush, Royal Court) with dramaturgy by Gail Babb. Other creatives include Natalie Pryce, Tony Gayle and Jessica Cabassa.

Black Power Desk is generously supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, Axis and L&Q.

Development supported by Birmingham Hippodrome, Brixton House, China Plate, Genesis Foundation, Hackney Empire, Mercury Musical Developments, Musical Theatre Network, Old Vic 12, PlayWell Productions, Stage One Bursary Scheme for New Producers, 1927, and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

"Soaring lyrics, palpable anger and undeniable power [...] A triumph." ★★★★★ (Everything Theatre)

“Unforgettable” ★★★★★ (London Theatre Doc)

“To be applauded” ★★★★★ (Afridiziak Theatre News)

“A powerful and poignant piece of work” ★★★★★ (All That Dazzles)

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