Book tickets: Nina – A Story About Me and Nina Simone at The Lowry

Nina – A Story About Me and Nina Simone has a four-night run at The Lowry starting at the end of January 2018. The acclaimed production tells the story of the gravelly voiced singer… and a whole lot more. One of the most extraordinary musical artists of the last century, Nina Simone was much more than just a singer and songwriter. Perhaps less well known is the fact that she was also an activist in the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s America and harnessed her talent to spread messages of liberation, empowerment and love. This new reflection on the singer’s life and career touches on these themes, drawing parallels with similar struggles today – and it also draws parallels with the work of Sweden-based, English-born, African-heritage performer Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE, who created the piece with director, Dritëro Kasapi. The Olivier Award-nominated Bushell-Mingo, known for her role as Rafiki in the West End’s The Lion King, is accompanied on stage by three musicians, and the performance mixes storytelling and song to uniquely tell the tale of both her own and Nina Simone’s artistry, as well as exploring how life influences art. Says Bushell-Mingo: ‘The production is about our relationship to each other, through the prism of blackness.’ With four star ratings across the board, Nina – A Story About Me and Nina Simone started life at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre, who are co-producers alongside Swedish company Riksteatern. Expect moving storytelling combined with belting Simone classics.

Tue 30 Jan – Sat 3 Feb 2018, The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ, Tel: 0843 208 6000, 8pm, prices vary, www.thelowry.com