Part I. Black practitioners and international performance networks. The 1900s in context. 1. Will Marion Cook and In Dahomey (1903) ; 2. Belle Davis, Laura Steer and Cassie Walmer ; The 1910s in context. 3. Following a year of Black performance in the UK: 1916 ; 4. Will Garland: Black cultural production on a national stage -- Part II. Black networks of production. The 1920s in context. 5. The secret Florence Mills Memorial Concert: January 1928 ; 6. Alberta Hunter and Mabel Mercer ; The 1930s in context. 7. Clarence 'Buddy' Bradley and Clarence Robinson -- Part III. Anti-racism and anti-imperialism in London. 8. Sam Manning, Amy Ashwood Garvey and 1930s anti-colonialism ; 9. Swing from Calloway to 'Snakehips' Johnson ; The 1940s in context. 10. Calypso and Black resistance.

Baksidestext: A radically urgent intervention, 'An Inconvenient Black History of British Musical Theatre: 1900 - 1950' uncovers the hidden Black history of this most influential of artforms. Drawing on lost archive material and digitised newspapers from the turn of the century onwards, this exciting story has been re-traced and restored to its rightful place. A vital and significant part of British cultural history between 1900 and 1950, Black performance practice was fundamental to resisting and challenging racism in the UK.