English Heritage Blue Plaque for Ira Aldridge

Shakespearian actor and pioneering figure in the world of theatre, Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) will be commemorated with an English Heritage blue plaque at 5 Hamlet Road, Upper Norwood, SE19, London at 11:30am on 24 October 2007. This was Aldridge`s final home which he named `Luranah Villa` after his mother. As one of the outstanding interpreters of Shakespeare of his age, Aldridge was dubbed `The African Roscius`, after the great Roman actor. He was the first black actor known to have played the role of Othello in London and was also widely recognised for taking on parts that hitherto had been the domain of white actors, including Shylock, Richard III and King Lear.