Benbo Productions present THE CAMBRIA Jan 25- Feb 5

The Cambria was a trans-Atlantic paddle-steamer. On August 10th 1845, among the passengers on board was an escaped slave called Frederick Douglass. His autobiography had just become a bestseller. Slave-owners placed a price on his head and he was forced to flee the US. He headed for Ireland.

It was an eventful voyage, culminating in a mob attempt to throw Douglass overboard. The Cambria tells the story of how he survived to become what Abraham Lincoln called "the most impressive man I ever met", and to become the rhetorical inspiration for Barack Obama in his successful campaign to become 44th President of the United States.

Frederick Douglass was welcomed as a hero in Ireland and his famed powers of oratory saw him become known as ‘The Black O'Connell'. He shared many platforms with O'Connell.

Directed by Raymond Keane, The Cambria ran for a week in The Irish Arts Centre New York in March 2009 where it received full houses and rave reviews and returned by popular demand for a 5 week run in October-November last year, as part of Cambria/Douglass, in rep with Spike Lee collaborator Roger Guenveur Smith's celebrated solo show Frederick Douglass Now!

 

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