In the mid-1980s, a landmark show emerged on the British stage that both celebrated Black history and helped revive a neglected theatre …

Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame was the brainchild of Flip Fraser (born Peter Randolph Fraser, 1951-2014), in collaboration with J.D. Douglas (dialogue) and Khareem Jamal (music). Its formation was inspired by the centenary of Marcus Garvey in 1987. The production began modestly, backed by a grant from Camden Council, and premiered in July 1987 at the Shaw Theatre in London. 

Fraser, Douglas, and Jamal designed Black Heroes as a pageant-style musical dramatic journey through over 5,000 years of Black history from African kingdoms, through resistance, civil rights, to contemporary Black icons. The show used a mix of music, dance, narration, and theatrical tableaux to bring to life global Black historical figures such as Marcus Garvey, Mary Seacole, Claudia Jones and Malcolm X, among others. 

Musically and theatrically, the show was ambitious, featuring a large cast (singers, dancers, musicians), dramatic and colourful staging, and a strong narrative told through vignettes. It aimed to both educate and entertain. It was not only a show, but also a form of cultural affirmation, giving audiences of Black British heritage points of connection and pride. 

Reviving Hackney Empire Theatre

One of the most striking impacts of Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame was its role in reactivating the Hackney Empire as a performance venue. By 1987, the Hackney Empire had long ceased to operate as a regular theatre, functioning primarily as a bingo hall. 

After the sold-out debut at the Shaw Theatre, community demand led the show to re-open the Empire for theatrical performance. This was symbolically powerful, it reopened a neglected institution to live theatre and demonstrated to local government, stakeholders, and the public that Hackney could sustain large scale theatrical productions. Black Heroes was one of the crucial early successes in the theatre’s revival, and the venue has gone on to host Black-led theatre productions to this day.

First All-Black Musical in the West End

After its success at Shaw and Hackney, Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame achieved another milestone, it became the first Black musical to play a major season in London’s West End when it moved to the Astoria Theatre in 1988-89. 

During the next decade, Black Heroes toured the UK, then Jamaica and the United States, particularly during Black History Month tours in 1992 and 1994. The show ran for almost 2,000 performances in various locations, broke box-office records, and received numerous awards and honours in cities such as Chicago, Washington DC, Cleveland, Miami, and Detroit. 

Its final performance in London was in 2007. Even decades later, there has been interest in reviving or relaunching it through the Black Heroes Foundation, established in 2016 in memory of Flip Fraser. 

The Legacy of the Cast

• Flip Fraser – Creator, director, writer. passed away in 2014, but his legacy lives on through archives and the Black Heroes Foundation.  
• J.D. Douglas (dialogue) and Khareem Jamal (music) Co-creators / collaborators. Their writing and musical frameworks were central, though less is publicly recorded about their ongoing acting work.  
• Eugene Paul – One of the original cast members. Played Sam Cooke in Black Heroes and has continued performing in shows and concerts.
• Fraser James – Still active as an actor, known for roles in film and television, including Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Yardie, Law & Order: UK, Wolfblood, and more.  
• Other original cast mentioned include Deridee Williams, Rudi Boyce, Prince Lincoln and the Royal Rasses.  

Why it Matters 

The success of Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame was multifaceted:

The production remains a landmark in British theatre history. It combined ambitious creative vision, social purpose, and community energy, tied with excellent performance, to carve new ground: celebrating Black history on a large scale, reviving theatres, breaking box-office ceilings, and paving the way for Black musicals in mainstream West End theatre. Its creators and several of its performers helped to build a legacy still felt today, both through their ongoing work and through institutions such as the Black Heroes Foundation.