THE story of a sometimes overlooked, black, 19th Century actor, a Christmas children’s spectacular, ‘The Cosby Show meets Restoration comedy’ and a tale of cross-dressing Filipinos in Tel Aviv might not appear to have much in common.

They will all, however, be featured in the new season at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn.

Indhu Rubasingham, the theatre’s new artistic director, said of the new series of plays: “It is a test of what I hope will continue and expand and become the bedrock of the Tricycle.”

Her first production at the venue in Kilburn High Road is Red Velvet, written by Lolita Chakrabarti and directed by Indhu.

It tells the story of Ira Aldridge, a black stage actor popular across the US and Europe who was known for his Shakespearean roles, most notably Othello.

The show stars Olivier Award-winning actor Adrian Lester, who is known for his extensive film and television appearances, including BBC’s Hustle, and who last appeared on stage in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre in the West End.

Lolita Chakrabarti, who appeared in the Tricycle’s The Great Game: Afghanistan, wrote the play. It centres on the dramatic moment when Edmund Kean, one of the greatest theatre actors of his time, collapsed on stage playing King Lear at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1933.

Young, black American actor Ira Aldridge is asked to take over the role and, despite fears over a possibly incendiary public reaction, he becomes well-loved and is now the only African-American of 33 actors to be honoured by a bronze plaque at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The production will be a world premiere. “Red Velvet is something I am very passionate about,” said Indhu.

“It is a huge honour for me to be able to do this as my first play. He was the first black classical actor in this country and he has been overlooked in British theatre history.

“Adrian Lester will be playing the lead role and it is a great honour that he will be here.”

The Arabian Nights, by Mary Zimmerman, is adapted from The Book of the Thousand and One Nights and is directed by Lu Kemp.

As the beautiful Sheherazade is wed to the brutal King Shahryar she must weave stories, conjuring up magical realms and fanciful creatures to captivate the king and avoid the fate of his other new brides.

The production is suitable for ages from nine up and, although the play is as far away from a pantomime as any of us are from finding a magic lamp, Indhu hopes it will bring families and children to the theatres.

“This one is a first for the Tricycle,” she said. “It’s a family Christmas show.

“The reason for doing this is so families in Brent can have a Christmas show on their doorsteps. Although it might not have the production budget of Matilda, it will be slightly cheaper than taking the whole family to the West End.”

After a journey across the Middle East and the sub-continent on a mystical journey, the theatre presents what has become known as ‘The Cosby Show meets Restoration comedy’, thanks to riotous productions across the world.

Written by Don Evans, One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show is directed by Dawn Walton and gives a sitcom-esque view of a family adjusting to introducing a wayward country cousin into their lives.

Indhu said at the launch of the new season on Monday last week that she intended to ‘bring unheard voices into the mainstream’ and this is surely achieved by the final production.

Also showing is Paper Dolls – written by Philip Himberg and adapted from a documentary about a unique subject and demographic which is rarely, if ever, featured in any kind of dramatic art.

Directed by Indhu, this play tells the story of a group of Filipino immigrants in Tel Aviv who care for elderly Orthodox Jewish men during the day.

One day a week, however, they transform themselves with dresses, hair spray and stilettos to become the Paper Dolls – a musical drag act.

“Paper Dolls is based on an award-winning documentary and is about five Filipino workers in Tel Aviv and features music and dance,” said Indhu.

“It is that collision of cultures and religion and that a human connection is still made whether young or old that I find very exciting about the story and play.”

The new season starts in October. More information can be found at www.tricycle.co.uk