OPEN MICNIGHT Call Andrea on 01633 777207


LIVE BAND


To discuss advertisingopportunities or email: andrea.hall@gwent-wales.co.uk


?


Friday, April 17, 2015 Follow us on Twitter @Argus_The Guide Tayo Aluko tellsANDYHOWELLS about his tribute to Paul Robeson


Hero who inspired a generation in Wales


One-Man Show


TAYO Aluko’s one-man play Call Mr Robeson will shortly make a welcome return to The Met , Ab- ertillery and Newport Riverfront as part of its UK tour. Tayo looks at the life and work


of world famous actor, singer and civil rights campaigner Paul Robeson, one of the 20th Cen- tury’s most impressive but over- looked figures in this powerful, compelling tour-de-force perfor- mance, which was seen at New York’s Carnegie Hall in February 2012, and in London’s West End in October 2013. The play follows Robeson’s life


over the years as he gets pro- gressively too radical and out- spoken for the establishment’s liking. He is branded a traitor to his country, harassed, and denied opportunities to perform or travel. Just as physical, emo- tional and mental stress threaten to push him over the fine line be- tween genius and madness, he is summoned to appear before the House of Un-American Activities Committee, to give the most dif- ficult and important performance of his career.


Andy Howells recently put


questions to Tayo Aluko about the show.


You will be bringing Call Mr Robeson back to Newport Riverfront soon, what originally inspired you to put the show together? A lady heard me sing, told


me I reminded her of him, but I hadn’t heard of him. By chance, I stumbled on his biography two months later and discovered this amazing story which I felt strong- ly needed to be told.


How does one approach play- ing such an inspirational and talented individual as Paul Robeson? I did it by picking a few inci- dents and episodes of his life


SIR Bruce Forsyth, one of the na- tion’s most famous and adored en- tertainers, will step on to the New Theatre, Cardiff, stage on April 27 for a rare must-see performance. Performing prior to an appear-


ance at the London Palladium, Bruce will be entertaining the audience in the way that only he can! Alongside Dave Arch (mu- sical director of Strictly Come Dancing) and the country’s finest musicians, the star will present an evening of singing, dancing, comedy and audience interaction. Bruce Forsyth’s successful ca-


reer has spanned over seventy years, with hit shows like The Generation Game and, more re- cently, as a host on Strictly Come Dancing. “It’s more or less the show I’ve


done everywhere,” Sir Bruce re- cently told Andy Howells. “ I’ve even done it at Glastonbury. I must say I was very scared, how would a young crowd who go there to see all these pop stars re- act? I think it was the most won- derful feeling I’ve ever had to be able to perform for these younger


7 Theatre Nice to see Sir Bruce


NICE TO SEE YOU: Sir Bruce Forsyth


people. Forgetting that they’d all grown up with me, I went on there wondering what it would be like; it was very emotional formeafter- wards.” Bruce Forsyth Entertains is at


the New Theatre on Monday April 27. Tickets are on sale now with prices from £28 to £40. For further details about the show or to book tickets* visit newtheatrecardiff. co.uk or call the Box Office on (029) 2087 8889.


Consider this musical


that I considered key, and those songs he sang and speeches he made that I considered most important, and constructing the narrative around those in a man- ner that flows well and allows us to hear his true story, from his own mouth.


Robeson faced hardship, prej- udice and hurtful accusations from critics and senior govern- ments. What do you think made him such a strong indi- vidual? He often retold the story of


wanting to quit playing American football at his otherwise all-white college because he had been attacked by the entire squad, to prevent him from joining the team. His father had persuaded him to persevere, because suc- ceeding would mean opening doors for other Black boys, so he “had to be ready to take what- ever was handed out.” I believe he carried that thought


ONE MAN SHOW: Tayo Aluko recreates Paul Robeson (inset) on stage with him throughout his life.


Living in the time he did, Paul


His relationship with South Wales goes back to the 1920s when he became aware of the hardships of the Welsh Miners while performing in ShowBoat in London’s West End. . Have you found that his legacy here in Wales is still strong? One only needs to go to the


Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl to see proudly displayed on their walls images of the occasion when Paul sang down a tel- ephone line from New York to the Eisteddfod there in 1957, or to Big Pit in Blaenarfon to see images of him there too. More so, I believe his recordings are routinely played on Welsh radio, and he is talked about generally, so yes, his legacy is still strong.


Have you uncovered any new or inspirational stories about Paul Robeson? Here I am responding to these questions from Adelaide, Aus-


tralia. After last night’s perfor- mance, an audience member recalled his father saying how he interviewed Robeson one- on-one in his hotel in Adelaide in 1960. He had been granted ten min-


utes by Robeson’s publicist, it stretched to forty, and he left (af- ter talking about everything from politics to music to Aussie rules football) thinking that Robeson remained the most impressive of all the people he had met in his long life .


Call Mr Robeson, will play The


Met, Abertillery on Thursday 23rd April at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale priced


at £10 / £8 concessions and available from the box office on 01495 355800 or by visiting www.blaenaugwentvenues.com Call Mr Robeson will play


Newport Riverfront on Friday 24th and Saturday25th April at 7.45pm Call (01633) 656757 to book.


Dog tale cast put on excellent performance


I WANTED to see The Olivier Award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time follow- ing a strong recommendation from my 12-year-old daughter, who recently saw the London West End presentation. The story follows 15-year-old Christopher Boone who has an extraordinary brain and is exceptional at maths, but is ill-equipped to interpret every- day life and from time to time is subject to behavioural prob- lems.


When his neighbour’s dog is killed, Christopher falls under


REVIEW:


The Curious Incident of theDog in the Night-Time, Wales Millennium Centre


suspicion but when he decides to make his own inquiries he begins a personal journey that turns his world upside down and unravels even more mys- teries. It is presented in a giant, cube-shaped stage that pro- jects lights and videos, and has a variety of hidden doors and cupboards for cast and props to enter and leave by. The set also reflects Christopher’s re-


actions generated by his As- perger’s Syndrome through a series of lightning flashes and occasional confused numbers and letters. The performances are flaw-


less, each cast move cho- reographed to perfection, from Christopher looking for a missing book under his father’s bed to travelling through the busy London Underground.


Wales own Joshua Jenkins


gives a breathtaking perfor- mance as Christopher, some- times funny, sometimes sad but always smart; this is a role that is handled with precision and clarity. There is strong support from the ensemble cast includ- ing Geraldine Alexander, Stu- art Ling and Gina Isaac who portray Christopher’s teacher and parents. Suitable for ages 11 plus, there


is something that will appeal to everyone. It runs until Satur- day. Visit wmc.org.uk to book. Andy Howells


LIONEL Bart’s hit musical based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist re- turns to the Dolman Theatre stage for four performances from Wednesday, April 22, to Saturday, April 25, at 7.15pm. This family show is packed


with drama, humour and well- known songs including Con- sider Yourself, Food Glorious Food and You’ve Gotta Pick a Pocket or Two. With such excellent materi-


al, every production provides a platform for new stars, and Newport Operatic Society’s show will uphold that tradi- tion with a cast that includes a number of new faces, headed


Xavier Clason-Morgan as Oliver


by Xavier Clason-Morgan as a heart-tugging Oliver. Tickets are £11 each and can


be purchased via dolmanthea tre.co.uk or from Chris Ed- munds on 01633 891363.


LEAD :


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12