OLIVIER and Tony Award-winning actor, Ian McDiarmid plays MP Enoch Powell in the world première of What Shadows by Chris Hannan.

Opening at Birmingham Repertory later this month and directed by The REP’s artistic director Roxana Silbert, What Shadows tells the story of Powell’s explosive ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, bringing to life the community that inspired it and, 30 years later, its effects on a woman trying to make sense of her life after her childhood was shattered by the toxic situation that followed.

“I was a storm. I was also a man entirely alone in a storm. There were forces beyond my control and I was one of them.”

1968: Midlands MP Enoch Powell has something to say. Something he feels needs to be said. Something that could divide Britain forever.

1992. Oxford academic and daughter of a Caribbean immigrant, Rose Cruickshank wants answers.

Enoch’s controversial words about immigration shattered her childhood.

Now she wants to know what led him to say them.

Will a meeting with the man himself allow her to find the inner peace she desperately craves?

Director Roxana Silbert said: “As we near the 50th anniversary of Enoch Powell’s explosive ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, I’m excited to be working once again with the brilliant Ian McDiarmid for Chris Hannan’s What Shadows.

"Powell’s provocative speech was made less than half a mile away from The REP and Chris’s powerful new play is a scorching interrogation of how a divided nation can learn to speak across the divide.”

The show runs from October 27 until November 12.

For tickets and more information, call 0121 236 4455 or visit Birmingham-rep.co.uk.