Tayo Aluko

“They say I’m meddling in the foreign affairs of the United States’ Government. Now, that’s too bad, ‘cause I’m going to have to continue to meddle…”

Tayo Aluko revives one of the 20th Century’s most impressive but overlooked figures in this powerful, compelling tour-de-force performance, which played to sell-out audiences at the Belgrade in 2010, and was also seen at New York’s Carnegie Hall in February 2012.

Paul Robeson is a world famous actor, singer and civil rights campaigner. When over the years he gets progressively too radical and outspoken for the establishment’s liking, he is 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 of Un-American Activities Committee, to give the most difficult and important performance of his career.

This award-winning roller coaster journey through Robeson’s remarkable and eventful life 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 much fiery oratory and some of his famous songs, including a dramatic rendition of Ol’ Man River.