Multiple and stunning revelations of the Black performers and productions that have graced the stages of London’s West End theatres
About this event
Explore the hidden history of African presence in the West End’s theatre district. With a recent explosion of Black productions since the events of 2020, we investigate and expose how far back the African/Caribbean presence on stage goes, who the performers were, where they appeared, audience reception and the racial climate at the time. This walk features:
- Black magicians, escape artists and hypnotists
- Best selling Caribbean Calypso and Michael Jackson
- Famous actors and their roles (much more than just Paul Robeson)Black women producers and sell out shows
- Comedians and Tragedians and their amazing real life stories
- Enslaved people and plays on the West End stage
- US Civil Rights connections, Pearl, Edric, Harry
- Black British Civil Rights Activists and the acting colour bar
- The ‘Beyonce’ of the 1950s who owned her own castle
- Racist tropes, stereotypes and how they were overcome
- Current Black productions you can check out
Watch out for Black History Walks new book ‘Black History Walks in London, Volume 1’ published by Jacaranda Books in 2021. This is part of Jacaranda’s revolutionary Twenty in 2020 initiative to publish 20 books by 20 Black British authors in 2020. An unprecedented feat. ‘Black History Walks in London Volume 1’ is the 20th of that series but was delayed due to the Coronavirus.
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