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
- Famous actors and their roles (much more than just Paul Robeson)
- Black women 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
Other coming events from www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk
- Black History Bus Tour
- Graphic novels, Black history, publishing and movies
- Hackney, Harlem, St Paul’/Bank, Theatreland and Soho Black History Walks
- African Odysseys, Racism in Academia and @BFI Southbank
- The Story of the CFA (West African Franc)
- 60 years of Black British Civil Rights, racism @BFI with Professor Gus John
- Windrush International Caribbean Film Festival
- How Black People Won World War 2
- Sign petition to save 17 years of Black film history at BFI Southbank HERE
About African Odysseys
The volunteer-run, African Odysseys film programme screened monthly, popular, anti-racist, Black history films with Q&A’s for 20 years at the BFI. It regularly filled the Southbank 450 seater at 2pm on Saturdays when cinemas are typically ‘dead’.The British Film Institute ignored a 19,000 strong petition to keep it HERE .Refused to answer 8 simple questions. Then cancelled the programme so they could ‘cut costs and promote diversity’ HERE
Event venue & nearby stays
Meet point on request, Theatreland, London, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.