Penarth St David’s Day concert will tell the Paul Robeson story

A St David’s Day concert in Penarth will tell the story of the remarkable singer and justice campaigner Paul Robeson.

Taking place at Penarth Pier Pavilion, the concert will tell how Paul came to be loved in Wales through his friendship with Welsh miners and working people. The concert will also explore the history of St David, the Patron Saint of Wales.

The concert event is called ‘Mr Morgan’ and is hosted and sung by baritone Richard Parry who will sing well-loved songs from Wales. Woven into the performance are stories about St David and Paul Robeson. Robeson was a musical theatre star on Broadway in America, and when his show transferred to London his life was changed when he met miners from South Wales, marching in London. Richard sings songs from Robeson’s 194o film set in Llantrissant, ‘Proud Valley’.

“His story is amazing,” says Richard, who first put the songs together for a St David’s day concert in Penarth Pier Pavilion in 2023. “I was asked to give a St David’s Day concert so I collected together Welsh music. On my piano I also had Paul Robeson songs, so I took them aloing and told the remarkable tale about how this amazingly charismatic and gifted singer was transformed in Wales into an international peace campaigner. The audience loved that story, so we’re delighted to bring the music and storytelling back this year as a show.”

Because it is St David’s Day the concert also tells the story of why David became so famous. “Everyone knows that David said, ‘do the little things’ “ said Richard. “But we want to tell the story of why he became so well known, what he had to tell us about life, and why he is now the Patron saint of Wales. Like Robeson’s, his life has something important for us today. Both men are still remarkably relevant and modern.”

The event includes traditional Welsh music, famous Welsh songs and spirituals, and award-winning performer Richard performs with the pianist Will Taylor.

The show on Sunday begins at 2.30 pm. Tickets are available at the door at Penarth Pier Pavilion and in advance online at https://www.worldclassfacilitation.org/mr-morgan-wales-st-david-paul-robeson/