Paul Robeson’s Love Song – an audio play : Dunedin Fringe Festival

Paul Robeson’s Love Song – an audio play

Presented by: Tayo Aluko & Friends | part of the C ARTS digital global fringe

From: Nigeria/UK

C Arts Digital Music Storytelling Theatre

An imagined story of historical romance, with music, recalling the racism of 1940s America, with worrying parallels to today.

See tickets below

Presented by: Tayo Aluko & Friends | part of the C ARTS digital global fringe

From: Nigeria/UK

Clearing out their late mother’s belongings, two siblings in Kenosha discover a package containing a record, suggesting a possible hidden romantic link between their grandmother and African-American singer and activist Paul Robeson, dating back to 1949. Watching coverage of protests at the latest police shooting happening in their city, they recall her story of racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Communist protests at a Robeson concert outside Peekskill, NY. The tense and uncertain run-up to the November 2020 elections reveals the best and the worst of their country in violent conflict, in a repeat of that hot summer of 1949.
This is an imagined story based around the Peekskill and Kenosha happenings.

‘A political and cultural feast, delivered with panache, humour and plenty of sumptuous baritone’ ***** (Morning Star)

‘The writing was authentic and the dialogue delivered incredibly well by the cast. [An] emotional and powerful piece of theatre’ Number9Reviews.blogspot.com)

‘Thoroughly compelling and highly educational’ (Writebase.co.uk)

Written by | Tayo Aluko

Cast in order of appearance
Adele Spears | Ananda Bena-Weber
George Simons | Bob Weick
Paul Robeson | Tayo Aluko
Charlie Daniels | Nils Swanson
Benjamin Winger | Michael Bias
Jessica Winger | Lisa Merrill
Essie Robeson | Leslie McCurdy
Paul Robeson, Jr | Mark Atkinson
Lloyd Brown | Darryl Van Leer 
Helen Rosen | Michelle Pauls 
Sidney Danis | David Rovics
Pianist | Dennis Nelson

Directed by | Olusola Oyeleye

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/751787720

Part of the C ARTS digital global fringe season at Dunedin Fringe Festival 2025, brought to you be the Edinburgh Fringe's C ARTS – for more of our year-round curated digital programme of theare, dance, music and performance see www.CtheArts.com.

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Duration

55min

Price

$8.00

13 years +
Content Warning

Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes

Contains some anti-Semitic and racist language

Venue

C ARTS | C venues | C digital

International Online Arts Programme www.CtheArts.com EH1 2PW

| Wheelchair Access YES

Additional Accessibility Information
 Digital online venue, where you can experience shows, events and creative work on your own computer, tablet, phone, connectible television or other device, from wherever you can access the internet

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About Us

Dunedin Fringe envisions a city ignited by creativity, where all people embrace art, culture and creativity into their daily lives.

We have a mission to provide platforms for creative expression that help nurture communities. We have a special focus on supporting emerging artists, and the development of new and experimental work.

We produce the Dunedin Fringe Festival, Amped Music Project and New Zealand Young Writers Festival annually, curate the White Box Gallery, and manage the performing arts venue Te Whare o Rukutia.

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03 477 3350

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