Sancho and Me

The Department of Drama, University of Birmingham, has organised a free performance on Wednesday 11 October by the actor and writer Paterson Joseph for schools and arts organisations in Birmingham who are interested in theatre, acting, performance, creative writing or history. 

You may have seen Paterson in TV shows such as Noughts and Crosses, Peep Show, or the films The Beach and more recently Wonka. He is also a seasoned RSC and stage actor.

Paterson has written an award-winning book about the eighteenth century Black actor, musician and writer Charles Ignatius Sancho whose journey took him from his birth on an African slave ship to becoming the first man of African Heritage to vote in Britain. His show, ‘Sancho and Me’,  is based on Sancho’s own story, intersecting with Paterson’s own journey, as a Black British actor and writer. There will be a short Q& A after the show.

The show is suitable for adults and young adults (minimum 16 years). Although it is entertaining and engaging please be aware that it also deals with the serious issues of racism and slavery, scheduled to coincide with Black History Month. The show is quite long (100 minutes including interval) so please only suggest students who can cope with quite a long and performance!

Entry is by ticket only. Book your free ticket at the link above! 

You can hear more about Charles Ignatius Sancho and writing historical fiction from Paterson Joseph, in conversation with Professor Michaela Mahlberg in Michaela’s podcast series ‘Life and Language’  

The Cadbury Research Library holds an original edition of the ‘Letters of the late Ignatius Sancho, an African: in two volumes: to which are prefixed, memoirs of his life....’ London, J. Nichols, 1782, Cadbury Research Library: HT 869.S3 and Dr Louise Curran (Department of English Literature) discusses them in a post on letter writing and epistolary novels for the British Library. 

Sancho’s figure will be projected onto the Houses of Parliament the day after the show celebrating his life and achievements.  

With thanks to the Barry Jackson Fund for supporting this work.