Show will shine a light on Dido’s story
A community group in England is getting ready to stage a show this weekend about a Perthshire aristocrat.
Dido Belle was one of the first black aristocrats in British society, and her iconic portrait hangs on the walls of Scone Palace in the ambassador’s room.
The palace even has an exhibition on her life, and her story was recently turned into a film.
Now a community theatre group called‘Sing a book’in Caltford, London, will be staging the musical‘Dido Through The Looking Glass’on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
The show, which is being supported by Scone Palace, will look at the story of Dido Belle and her contributions to British history.
Dido Belle was the daughter of West Indian slave Maria and British naval officer Rear Admiral Sir John Lindsay, and she herself was born into slavery.
When her mother died when she was just six years old, her father took her to his family home, Kenwood House, where she was cared for by his uncle, the Earl of Mansfield, who took her to Scone.
Before his death, Earl Mansfield took significant steps to abolishing slavery and in 1772 found the practice had no precedent in common law within Britain. Many believe Dido Belle would have influenced his views on the matter.
Dido often struggled with her identity and sense of belonging, and the London theatre show will follow her journey of self discovery. The show is being performed by a cast ranging in ages from seven to 19, and over 55s, in a bid to get more underrepresented groups on the stage.