Nigerian Activist Passes BBC Security, Fires Shot at Tony Blair, Live on Air October 15, 2013 Not displaying correctly? Click here to view. Greetin

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Nigerian Activist Passes BBC Security, Fires Shot at Tony Blair, Live on Air

October 15, 2013

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In Loose Ends studio

With writer Patrick McCabe (l) and actor Jim Broadbent (c) in Loose Ends Studio

Greetings from London
I was thrilled to have been invited to be a guest on BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends programme last week, where I rubbed shoulders with some stars of screen and stage, all telling Clive Anderson and the nation about our current and recent work. In my case, it was the ongoing performances of Call Mr. Robeson at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden, as part of my Paul Robeson Art Is A Weapon Festival.
You can hear the "shot" I fired at honourable Mr. Blair by listening to the broadcast here (my section starts at 33.48). Of course, he was just a footnote in the conversation, which was largely about Paul Robeson, but a footnote that warrants some careful examination, as some speakers at the festival have alluded to, and as suggested for example in this blog. Its author, a certain Councillor Lester Holloway, raises some of the kinds of questions that have been raised by the impressive speakers at the festival, and the remaining talks promise to be just as engaging and maybe controversial.

gupro

Click here to read blog

Firing Blanks?

Other things that have been done to try to generate interest in the festival include writing some blog pieces: one for the Guardian and one for What's on Stage.

There have been a few online reviews also, but strangely, none of the national newspapers took up the invitation to come and review the show and festival. I regret to say therefore that the attendances at the festival have been very poor indeed, which is a shame, considering the wonderful stuff that's on offer. I appeal to you all to help turn this around, and support us by coming along and/or encouraging people in and near London to do the same, by forwarding this email to them. I had a couple come all the way from Bradford to see it, and others who do so from over 150 miles fromthe theatre will be especially thanked, and will be welcome to claim a free copy of the newly-published play text, published by Playdead Press
The CD of songs from the show is also back on sale, and a DVD will be available literally within a few days. Also for sale at the festival are copies of the latest biography on Paul Robeson, by Jordan Goodman, launched on our opening day, a pamphlet by Sean Creighton on Robeson in the UK, the script of CLR James's play on Toussaint L'Ouverture and the Haitian Revolution, and other books by other speakers at the festival - all to do with the issues that the great man is likely to have supported and/or been interested in. A full list will be available on the website in due course, though the best way to see them is to come to the festival! There iare discounts available for booking multiple shows at once, through the Guardian (limited numbers) or at box office.

In addition, any further donations will be gratefully received. These will be acknowledged in future editions of the play text, though not the DVD.

harriet copy

Click to go to website.

 
Thembi Mtshali-Jones1

View clip of Mother to Mother

I have singled out two of the final fortnight's performers for special mention, because they have graciously agreed to travel from far off lands to take part in the festival, the lure of London's West End being as exciting to them as it is to the rest of us! I would love to send them back having enjoyed the full houses.

The Spirit of Harriet Tubman is brought to us by Leslie L McCurdy from Windsor, Ontario. Her website includes a lovely trailer which includes some really touching audience reactions to the piece.
Mother to Mother, written and performed by Thembi Mtshali-Jones has toured internationally and in fact comes to us not long after a run at the famous Market Theatre in Johannesburg. Click on the photo to see a trailer.

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To Arms! Liberty or Death

After the festival, life gets a little easier, though not till after I have participated in an intriguing conference in Liverpool celebrating the 75th anniversary of CLR James's book, the Black Jacobins. The post - "Art Is Fest" performance schedule is as follows:

October 27: Rehearsed reading of extracts from Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History. by CLR James, at Bluecoat Centre, Liverpool

November 7: Ruskin College, Oxford
November 8: Oxford Spires Academy
November 9: Helmsley Arts Centre

November 16: Singing at Moving Forward conference for Searchlight Magazine, London

art is weapon lead image

Thanks to:

Holden and Sons for their lovely designs (as ever) of the posters, flyers, merchandise and website for the festival;
To Mobius Industries for the PR and marketing (on a tight budget!) for the festival. The success on getting onto Loose Ends, the blogs etc is down to them, and I know they are still working on the national papers (if anybody out there can help "penetrate their defences", we'll be glad to hear from you!
To Ben, Will, Cathy, Louise, Freddie, Debbie, Sarah, Anna, Philomena, Tina and all the other helpful people at the Tristan Bates Theate for making us so welcome,
to people who have already contributed; the participants;
To Adrian Leibowitz for arranging for the recording of the talks, most of which will eventually be available on the website;
To Lawrence Carter, a wonderful and hard working freelance theatre technician and stage manager (highly recommended!)
and a special thanks to other friends who have helped in other ways - you know who you are.

Thanks also to the people who attended the shows in the recent USA/Canada tour, and then in Southport, Shrewsbury, Maidenhead, Brighton and Chester. If you didn't get programme notes, which always include a comment relating what's happening in the news at the time to Robeson (quite a task for this festival!) they can be seen (where available) on the recent performances page.

Youtube image

Click image to view trailer

And For My Parting Shot...

I always ask that you take a moment to forward this email as you see fit - to people you think may be interested in seeing and/or booking the show.They will get a sense of it by clicking on the image to view a short trailer.I also enjoyed being guest speaker/singer at the Manchester Rotary Club in September, and am open to other offers like that. Many thanks.

Keep fightin'!

Best wishes,

Tayo Aluko

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