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From Ira Aldridge to Paul Robeson, many celebrated black performers appeared in Dundee’s theatres, concert halls and dance halls over the years. This illustrated talk will focus on the peak years of theatre-going in Dundee, when audiences could choose from a wide variety of dramatic and musical stage performances, as well as (in the mid-late 19th century) public lectures from formerly enslaved individuals who had become renowned anti-slavery campaigners. We will meet extraordinary stars of the past such as Juba, the dance sensation now credited as one of the pioneers of tap dancing; or the pianist Blind Tom, who could play two tunes at the same time with different hands while singing a third. Dundee also hosted spectacular touring productions of shows with prominent black characters like Uncle Tom’s Cabin and all-black revues such as Coloured Society.

This is a free event run by Lifelong Learning Dundee in association with the Woven Together Dundee project as part of Black History Month Scotland.

Information published by Leisure and Culture Dundee.