Wrexham honours cinematic legend

27 September 2007

One of the twentieth century’s cultural and political giants will be remembered in Wrexham on 4 October with a day of activities examining the life and work of Paul Robeson.  The actor’s son Paul Robeson Junior will be visiting NEWI as part of the event which will also be attended by the First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM and Huw Irranca Davies MP.

The exhibition comes five years after the last Paul Robeson exhibition at NEWI and was the brainchild of Ian Lucas MP, a lifelong fan of Paul Robeson and a great admirer of the political work of the actor, singer and civil rights activist.

The day’s activities include an exhibition on the life of Paul Robeson with particular attention on the actor’s connections to Wales and Wrexham. A local school choir will perform and Paul Robeson Junior will talk about his father’s legacy. 

The film which did most to link Paul Robeson to the cause of the Welsh miners, The Proud Valley, will be shown in NEWI at 1.45 that afternoon. The link with Wrexham dates back to 1934 when the actor first visited the town to play at the Majestic Cinema. He did not forget the town and when in September of that year 266 men died at the Gresford colliery disaster Paul Robeson performed a special concert in their honour.

Paul Robeson Junior’s address and the film are open to the public and are free of charge, the address will take place at 11am and The Proud Valley will be screened at 1:45pm.  Both events will take place in the Nick Whitehead Theatre on NEWI’s Plas Coch Campus.