'Emotional joy carrying an important message'

Lauded musical Black Power Desk explores the civil rights movement in the 1970s, as seen through the eyes of two sisters, writes DAVE FREAK

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SINCE opening at London's Brixton House, new musical Black Power Desk has garnered a string of rave reviews, much to the delight of writer Urielle Klein-Mekongo, who has relished seeing audiences “jumping out of their seats”.

Inspired by events from the 1970s (such as the Mangrove Nine, who stood up against police harassment in Notting Hill), it takes audiences back to a pivotal time in the British civil rights movement, and features lyrics from rapper/actor Gerel Falconer and music from Renell Shaw (who has worked with such artists as Emeli Sande, Jess Glynne and Skepta).

"Black Power Desk is a story about two sisters, one who's driven by politics and one who’s driven by love,” says Urielle. “This is all happening against the backdrop of a 1970s UK Black resistance and it’s about them figuring out where they stand in this resistance whilst also trying to protect and defend their community.

"It's quite an emotional joy ride,” she adds. “But at the same time it carries a very important message.”

The initial idea for the project was for it to be about the actual Mangrove Nine, but then shifted to a fictitious story; what led to that change in direction?