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Throughout the 19th century black performers, often from America, regularly appeared on the London stage in minstrel shows. Although their parts were small and often incidental to a performance, the black actors first had to prove themselves to audiences in the provinces. When Ira Aldridge took to the stage in Brighton, slavery had just been abolished in the British Colonies and tensions were running high. In 1846, Ira toured the South East and was known to have performed in Chichester, Arundel and at Theatre Royal Brighton. Joe Talbot narrates the story. The image is of Ira Aldridge, painted in 1848 with thanks to Victoria and Albert Museum, London.