Photo Flash: First Look at Rehearsals for SOUL, the Life of Marvin Gaye

This summer, Royal & Derngate Northampton and Hackney Empire will co-produce the world première of Soul, a new play by Roy Williams about the family life of soul legend Marvin Gaye. Directed by James Dacre and designed by Jon Bausor, Soul takes to Northampton's Royal stage from Friday 20 May to Saturday 11 June, before its run at Hackney Empire from Wednesday 15 June to Sunday 3 July. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the rehearsal photos below!

Full cast: Adjoa Andoh, Leo Wringer, Petra Letang, Mimi Ndiweni, Nathan Ives-Moira, Keenan Munn-Francis, Abiona Omonua.

On April Fool's Day 1984, hours before his 45th birthday, Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father in the shared family home they called the 'Big House'. What happened there has since been shrouded in mystery.

Revealing the events that took place during Marvin Gaye's haunting final days and exploring his extraordinary life, Soul is a parable about an American family crushed by fame - a searing portrait of the dark side of the American dream.

Written by award-winning Roy Williams (Sucker Punch, Days of Significance) in close collaboration with members of Marvin Gaye's family, this play with music will feature Royal & Derngate's and Hackney Empire's celebrated community choirs. Original instrumental music has additionally been composed and recorded for the production by Marvin Gaye's close musical collaborator Gordon Banks, widely considered to be one of soul music's great guitarists.

The Musical Director is Joseph Roberts (Rudy's Rare Records, Birmingham Rep and Hackney Empire) and the production features the Royal & Derngate Community Choir in its Northampton performances and the Hackney Empire Community Choir for its London run.

The production is recommended ages 14 and upwards.

#UntoldSoul

Photo Credit: Marc Brenner

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