The Secret Life of Bees playing at the Almeida theatre until May 27

Set in 1964 South Carolina, The Secret Life of Bees follows an unusual pair of friends as they escape from a small town in the sweltering deep south. Rosaleen is fighting for her right to vote, and Lily is running away from her violent father.

Rosaleen (Abiona Omonua), is the best friend and family maid of Lily (Eleanor Worthington-Cox), a nervous young white woman whose broken and abusive father T Ray, blames her for the death of her mother 10 years prior.

Tough and determined, Rosaleen heads out to vote with Lily accompanying her, but they’re assaulted by racists and offered no sympathy by Lily’s father.

Together they decide to flee their small town.

They seek salvation at a mysterious, black-run, honey bee farm that Lily’s mum had once sent her a postcard from.

However, both young women are haunted by a past that promises to catch up with them.

Written by Lynn Nottage, The Secret Life of Bees is a musical based on the bestselling novel by Sue Monk Kidd.

Sue Monk Kidds first novel, The Secret Life of Bees, spent more than two and half years on the New York Times bestseller list, received numerous awards and was adapted into an award-winning movie.

Duncan Sheik’s music, accompanied by Susan Birkenhead’s lyrics and a phenomenal band, carry the story with soul, folk, blues and gospel.

Lynn Nottage is the first and only woman to have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice.

Alongside the Tony Award-winning composer and Tony Award-nominated lyricist, The Secret Life of Bees promises to captivate audiences with a story about a group of women ignited by rebellion and longing for acceptance.

The Secret Life of Bees will run at the Almeida theatre, just off Upper Street in Islington from April 8 until May 27.

 

Website: https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/the-secret-life-of-bees

 

 

Picture: Abiona Omonua Picture: Marc Brenner