THE first editor of Britain’s longest-running Black newspaper will be celebrated on stage for one night only.
“The Story of Flip Fraser” will explore the journey of Peter Randolph Fraser, known as Flip Fraser, from Jamaica, where he was born, to London, where he moved at 16 and ultimately became the editor of The Voice.
Directed by Wil Johnson, the play will take place at the Shaw Theatre in Camden on 25 October, marking a decade since his passing.
Johnson expressed his admiration of Fraser, stating, "I want to shine a light on one of this country’s great pioneers. He was one of those extraordinary men who just knew that his life was bigger than himself."
In 1987, Fraser launched Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame, an ambitious show that encapsulated 5,000 years of Black history in a single night at the Shaw Theatre, becoming the first all-Black musical staged in the West End.
According to Johnson, "His widow Joyce wanted to somehow keep his legacy going. And so she decided to write this play, which explored the man." This production marks Johnson’s directorial debut, building on his extensive career in television, film, and theatre.
"1982 was when Flip became the first editor of The Voice Newspaper," Johnson noted. "There was no social media. So a lot of our information came from word of mouth, community radio stations and through what little Black publications there were. So Flip becoming the editor of The Voice Newspaper, that was a huge huge thing."
Johnson described the newspaper as "like a lifeline" for many within the community. "Flip was very charismatic, very driven, his viewpoint was very afro-centric, very Jamaican. He had a mission. He just wanted to do something for his people and to make a mark."
The production is organised by the Black Heroes Foundation and sponsored by the University of Greenwich.
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