Ira Aldridge, a legend of the stage, was one of the most celebrated thespians of the nineteenth century. This theater poster advertises an engagement by Aldridge at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, England, in which he performed three roles from his extensive repertoire, Othello, Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, and Gambia in The Slave. Transcribe the playbill to learn more about Aldridge’s performances.
One of the most celebrated American thespians of the 19th century, Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) achieved his legendary status on the stages of Britain and continental Europe, where he sought and found the professional opportunities he could not obtain in the United States as an African American actor. After making his debut on the London stage in 1825, Aldridge toured the English provinces, honing his craft and developing his repertoire through a variety of roles, from Shakespeare plays to contemporary farce and melodrama. In 1833, he became the first black actor to portray Othello on the London stage. By the 1850s, Aldridge was performing throughout Europe, drawing crowds of enthusiastic admirers and receiving numerous honors from foreign dignitaries. Although he never returned to the United States – he was planning an American tour at the time of his death – Aldridge remained committed to aiding the African American freedom struggle, speaking out against slavery to his European audiences and sending funds to help purchase freedom for enslaved people back home.