The third in a trilogy of one-man musical plays by award-winning playwright actor and singer, Nigerian-born Tayo Aluko, this “concert in a play” contrasts the beautiful music of Coleridge-Taylor with the sometimes harrowing history of his birth-father’s country and the horrors of war.  As with his two previous plays: Call Mr. Robeson and Just An Ordinary Lawyer, Aluko navigates history and politics through a personal story with music and humour, even while tackling very difficult subjects.

A respected Sierra Leonean diplomat hatches a post-retirement plan to tour the world singing songs composed by his famous uncle, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.  While temporarily helping out at the Philosophy department at Fourah Bay College in Freetown, the civil war that has been ravaging the country finally reaches his campus. Taking shelter, George Coleridge-Taylor reflects on his and his country’s stories, and imagines himself in concert, all while wondering if he dares risk trying to save the female student captured by the fearsome rebels.

This is a world premiere performance.

Warnings: Contains allusions to, and suggestions of sexual violence