A Waltz in New Orleans is a new play which received its off-West End premier during Black History Month at The Cockpit Theatre in October 2021. A one man show accompanied by a live band, it is the yarn of the greatest jazz musician you've never heard of narrated by the braggadocious drummer who's here to convince you that he invented jazz.

The debut play from writer, producer and drummer Lucas Keen, A Waltz in New Orleans began life as a radio drama written and aired during the lockdown of 2020 and then developed in 2021 with the support of The Arts Council’s Developing Your Creative Practice fund.

The Creative Team

Lucas Keen

Lucas Keen is a writer & jazz drummer and has performed at WOMAD, Latitude, and The Bayimba Festival of The Arts (Uganda). He also writes for Pan African Music Magazine.

Claude Deppa

Claude Deppa is an an original member of The Jazz Warriors and currently leads the brass section of Kinetika Bloco, performing regularly with Grand Union Orchestra among others.

Chavonne Brown

Chavonne Brown is a writer, spoken word artist and comic whose work has been seen at The Playbox Theatre Warwick, Stratford Arts Festival, and Crescent Theatre Birmingham.

Roberta Philip

Roberta Philip is a classically trained soprano with a background in opera and jazz. Performances include BBC Proms and various European jazz festivals.