Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre is to celebrate Black History Month throughout October with events including performances, talks and workshops.
Birmingham-based Strictly Arts Theatre Company will stage a double bill in the B2 auditorium. Inspired by true events and produced in collaboration with writer Camilla Whitehill, Freeman tells the story of a black slave who was put on trial in 19th century New York. It was the first case to raise “insanity” as a defence. It runs from Thursday 29 September until Saturday 1 October and will be performed again on Thursday 6 October.
Corey Campbell’s Green Leaves Fall is set in Brixton in 1981 in the aftermath of the riots. It uses physical theatre to explore social issues such as inequality, unemployment and radicalisation. It runs from Thursday 6 until Saturday 8 October.
Tony Howard from the multicultural Shakespeare project at Warwick University will tell the stories of two men who many years ago called for BAME actors to play the Bard’s greatest roles when he gives a talk Ira Aldridge and Paul Robeson: Setting Shakespeare Free on Thursday 20 October.
More information is available at the Belgrade web site.