West End Productions will launch its 2026 season and celebrate its 10th anniversary with Red Velvet, a historical drama that examines race, memory and the cost of artistic defiance through the true story of actor Ira Aldridge.
Written by British playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, Red Velvet is set in 1833 London, amid riots protesting the Slavery Abolition Act. Inside the Theatre Royal, Aldridge is preparing to become the first African American actor to play Othello in London, a role that places him at the center of cultural and political turmoil. The conflict inside the theatre mirrors the unrest outside, forcing artists and audiences alike to confront questions of representation and power.
Director Levi Gore says the decision to stage Red Velvet was closely tied to West End Productions’ broader artistic vision. “Colleen [McClure], the artistic director of West End, asked me to direct this about a year, a little over a year ago,” says Gore.
At the time, Gore was also serving as artistic director for the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival, which was planning a production of Othello. “She wanted to do that in tandem with Othello as, like, a companion piece, because the story is also that they’re putting on Othello during the performance of Red Velvet,” says Gore.
From the beginning, Gore approached the play as a meditation of memory. “I read the play multiple times. I saw it’s a memory play, and I saw it as, like, this broken memory that a man who has spent his entire life in the theater is trying to reclaim this specific moment that defined him,” says Gore. He describes his role as collaborative rather than authoritative. “My philosophy for directing is, I’m a guide,” says Gore. “It’s like putting them on a boat, and I’m guiding them down the river.”
That approach has shaped the rehearsal process, which Gore describes as deeply rewarding. “I’m having such a privilege going to rehearsal every night,” says Gore. “I enjoy walking into the space and kind of seeing what people have brought to the table.” Gore praises the cast and creative team for their intelligence and generosity, calling the process “a really positive experience.”
Marcus Ivey stars as Ira Aldridge, a role that Gore says has benefited from personal connection and open conversation. “It’s been really interesting to be able to bring that with Marcus, who’s playing Ira, and his own experiences, and how we’ve been able to talk through and figure out these nuances,” says Gore.
For audiences, Gore hopes the play inspires reflection rather than easy answers. “I want them to leave with a feeling of introspection,” says Gore. “Our memories are always fragmented and fading, and we’re trying to grasp on to bits and pieces, and our collective past is about the same way.” Gore adds, “I want them to realize that there is always room to improve and be better.”
Gore also emphasizes the play’s historical grounding. “I think it’s really important people know that this is a true story, dramatized, of course,” says Gore. “The reviews that are read in act two … are real reviews that you can find in the archive of the papers.” Gore adds, “It’s a reliving of a history that some people, even in the theater, don’t really know.
Red Velvet runs Feb. 13 through March 1 at North Fourth Theatre. Performances are Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at westendproductions.org.