22nd September 2019
Robert Wedderburn was a political activist of Jamaican/Scottish heritage from the early 1800’s fighting for the freedom of slaves and equality for the poor in London.
From 2019-2021, Last Legs Dance Theatre told Robert Wedderburn’s story through dance, text and music, pulling this history out from the fabric of our British culture and into the arena of discussion.
Directors Peter Anderson and Marie-Louise Flexen used Dance Theatre as the backbone to tell this story. They collaborated with Louise Sprekelsen, a Professional Oboist and Chioma Uma, an Actress/Violinist to help construct the scaffolding that held together the musical composition.
Last Legs Dance Theatre uses Contemporary Dance, Improvisation, Comedy and Music to produce Theatrical Productions. As mature dancers, they use their experience within Theatre to convey stories and themes that inspire their creativity. Their performances offer an alternative perspective on relevant subjects, expanding concepts that are both engaging and educational to audiences.
The Mission for the Project
While researching Robert Wedderburn’s history most of the information was written in an academic voice. There was a lack of easily accessible information about his life’s journey. It was Last Legs Dance Theatre’s intention to fill that gap with Dance Theatre performances live and online, with additional supporting documentaries and online discussions.
Watch the full performance here:
Watch the project documentary film here: