Just how well known is the name Paul Robeson these days? That was a question Tayo Aluko asked during the Q&A session that followed his one man show ‘Call Mr Robeson’ in South Norwood’s Stanley Halls recently. And is he better remembered in the UK than in his native USA?
If the knowledgeable audience that filled the Stanley Halls was anything to go by the name of Paul Robeson is far from forgotten but Tayo commented that when he spoke to people in America about the singer, actor and political activist he often got blank looks. This is a state of affairs that Tayo is determined to change.
Born in New Jersey in 1898, Robeson was the son of a man who had been born as an enslaved person. Robeson became only the third Black student to attend the prestigious Rutgers College. He fought racism and injustice throughout his life, making himself exceptionally unpopular with the American authorities by closely associating himself with communism.
Perhaps best known for singing ‘Ole Man River’ in the film ‘Showboat’ he enjoyed a successful film career (a personal favourite is ‘Proud Valley’ filmed on location in a South Wales mining community) and as a singer. He also performed on stage, for instance taking the title role in a London production of ‘Othello’.
Tayo Aluko’s one man play is a powerful evocation of Robeson’s life. The stage is littered with Robeson memorabilia, all from Tayo’s personal collection. Occasionally during the play he picked up a letter or theatre bill and used it as a prop to support the narrative. His singing voice was powerful but, probably inevitably, could not quite match Robeson’s own deeply resonant tone.
There is a DVD of the show, it was available on the night but I’m not sure where else it can be obtained. So here is a short extract from the show: