Touring, and later years
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In 1828, Aldridge had toured in Coventry while he was largely touring the English provinces. After his acting impressed the people of Coventry, he was made a manager at Coventry Theatre, and thus became the first ever African American to manage a British theatre. [1]
During the time when Aldridge remained in Coventry for a few months, he made various speeches about the evils of slavery. And after he left Coventry, his speeches and the impression he made, had inspired the people of Coventry to go to the county hall, and petition to the Parliament, to abolish slavery. [1]
Professor Tony Howard, who teaches in the Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies at the University of Warwick [2], was campaigning for the commemoration of Aldridge's time in Coventry, with the Belgrade Theatre. He had also said that, in Coventry, where there was formerly little interest in the abolition of slavery, Aldridge had "changed the climate of thinking". [1]
On 3 August 2017, a blue plaque was unveiled to honour Aldridge for his time in Coventry, and to commemorate the location of the theatre. The plaque was unveiled in the Upper Precinct in Coventry city centre, by Lord Mayor Councillor Tony Skipper [1] and was helped by actor Earl Cameron, whose voice coach was Aldridge's daughter, Amanda Ira Aldridge.
BBC Article - others
His life, 150 years after his death, is described as "unbelievable but true".
Blue Plaque for Ira Aldridge
He was first black person ever to run a British theatre and to portray Othello on stage
Born in New York in 1807, Aldridge moved to England aged 18 after he was beaten in racist attacks and the theatre he performed at was burnt down.
He began his UK career in London, famously playing Othello in Covent Garden, where he was "extremely well received" according to a critic from The Times.
The actor who overcame prejudice
Gradually he developed into other roles and, with the use of make-up, went on to play Richard III, Shylock, Iago and even King Lear and Macbeth.
Prof Tony Howard, from the University of Warwick, has been campaigning with the Belgrade Theatre for Aldridge's time in Coventry to be commemorated.
He said Aldridge "changed the climate of thinking" in Coventry, where there had previously been little interest in abolition.
The plaque will be unveiled by Lord Mayor Councillor Tony Skipper in the Upper Precinct in the city centre, where thousands will see it every day.
Prof Howard said "nobody talks about Ira Aldridge's moment in Coventry" and people are often surprised when they hear the story. "It's unbelievable but it's true," he said.
He hopes that by placing the plaque at eye-level, more people will be engaged with the remarkable story.
He said: "What the plaque is saying is that this man achieved things that are hard for black people to achieve today."
Adrian Lester MBE played Ira Aldridge in Red Velvet, a play about his life. He said: "This is a fitting and just tribute to an incredible talent. For Ira to have achieved so much at a time when society thought so little, is a testament to his tenacity and hard work."