About Us

Five years in the making

The project has been the labour of love of singer Del Afrique and her songwriter husband Russ Courtenay. Renowned musicians in their respective fields, Russ and Del have painstakingly researched the background to this story, written scripts for both the play and film, and produced an album of unforgettable music. The Rainbow Beach Collective is fast becoming a powerful performance team.

The team

Playwright & Vocalist

Del Afrique

BMus (2:1); BBC Radio’s Jazz Soloist of the Year.

A professional singer since the age of sixteen, Del Afrique has travelled the world fulfilling engagements at venues including the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. She has sessioned at studios including Abbey Road and Whitfield Street, supported Cliff Richard, toured with Gloria Gaynor, and built a reputation as a vocal coach for artists in Poland, South Africa and the United States. She has directed Rainbow Beach on its North West tour.

“Long acknowledged by industry insiders as one of the best singers in the UK.”
Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms

Composer & Songwriter

Russ Courtenay

BMus (2:1)

Russ’s early career included work as a drummer on the chart-topping hits “Now Is the Time” and “I’ll Go Where the Music Takes Me” with Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. He has worked as a session musician in studios including Real World, The Manor, The Hit Factory, The Town House, R.G. Jones and Top of the Pops with many of the world’s finest producers, and now has a recording studio of his own. As a songwriter he has had songs recorded, or on hold, by Tina Turner, Gloria Gaynor, Anita Baker and Toni Braxton. He has produced evocative soundscapes set to poetry created for Black History Month.

Vocalist

Steven Wren

Lancaster-born Steven has been playing and studying music since the age of ten. He has recorded and written lead vocals with Mint Royale, who have had songs in the UK charts — his soulful, bluesy vocals featured on “Blue Song”, a UK Top 40 hit. Steven worked closely with Mint Royale on their album See You in the Morning, singing on five of its tracks, one of which was used by Hugo Boss for a television advertising campaign.

“Rainbow Beach is the most worthwhile project I’ve worked on. The world has gained so much from that particular era in terms of music, and writing songs for it is a joy. Unfortunately, some people haven’t learned enough, and many people around the world are still suffering from racism. Rainbow Beach is happy, sad, exciting and educational.”