Call Mr Robeson Performed by Tayo Aluko

Paul Robeson was a world renowned bass baritone performer, an actor, an American football player, a Lawyer, and the leading civil rights activist of his day.

Here is Tayo Aluko performing his one man show “Call Mr Robeson“. Tayo performed this play at The Grove Theatre on 4th November 2O23. It was a full house with Q and As afterwards.

Paul Robeson performed at The Winter Garden 13 times packing the venue to capacity with crowds left outside unable to get in. Peoples Eastbourne and Engels in Eastbourne are campaigning for a commemoration of Paul Robeson at The Winter Garden.

From the shownotes:-

“When over the years Paul Robeson gets progressively too radical and outspoken for the establishment’s liking, he was branded a traitor to his country, harassed, and denied opportunities to perform or travel.

Just as physical, emotional and mental stress threaten to push him over the fine line between genius and madness, he is summoned to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee, to give the most difficult and important performance of his career.

Call Mr Robeson is a roller coaster journey through Robeson’s remarkable and eventful life, and highlights how his radical activism caused him to be disowned and disremembered, even by the leaders and descendants of the civil rights movement.

It features some of his famous songs and speeches, including a dramatic rendition of Ol’ Man River.

Famously performed at Carnegie Hall, February 12th 2012, to a standing ovation!”

Thank you Tayo. We hope that with success in securing a worthy commemoration of Paul Robeson in Eastbourne, that we can invite you back to perform here again.

See here for more on Paul Robeson in Eastbourne.