A NIGERIAN-BORN playwright will be hosting a ground-breaking performance charting the life story of civil rights campaigner Paul Robeson in Blaenavon this month.

Tayo Aluko was at Big Pit to launch the show he has written and will perform which follows the rollercoaster journey through Robeson’s eventful life highlighting how his radical activism caused him to be disowned and forgotten.

Mr Robeson's long association with South Wales began with the 1940 film The Proud Valley, which depicts how a black American is taken to the heart of a Welsh mining community.

Although much of the action was filmed at Ealing Studios or in Staffordshire pits - Welsh mine-owners having refused permission - Mr Robeson toured across Valleys mining towns to promote the film.

Mr Aluko has performed the show across the UK, Europe, Africa and the USA.

Now bringing it to Blaenavon on October 22, the show will see him give a series of talks and presentations to local schoolchildren while on October 23 he will do one public performance of “Call Mr Robeson” at Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall at 7.30pm.

Mr Aluko said: “Nowhere is Paul Robeson loved and remembered with more affection than in South Wales. It is really an honour to retell his story here, to keep his name alive and introduce him to a new generation of South Walians.”

For tickets to the public performance, which are £10 each, contact the World Heritage Visitor Centre on 01495 742333.