WHEN first appointed to the British Embassy in Washington, Guy Burgess was told three rules: not to be too left-wing, not to get involved in race relations, and not to get involved in any homosexual incidents.

"I understand," the spy replied. "What you mean is I mustn't make a pass at Paul Robeson."

Described by writer Lloyd Brown as: "The most persecuted, the most ostracised, the most condemned black man in America, then or ever," Robeson was a legend long before his death in 1976.

The son of a slave became famous as an actor in the 1930s, making Old Man River his own and starring in Othello, which at 300 performances became the longest-running play in Broadway's history.

His support of civil rights and left-wing politics led to him being condemned as a Communist and banned from leaving the US for eight years.

But when he was given his passport back one of Robeson's first international trips was to Ebbw Vale, to honour a promise and sing at the 1958 Miners' Eisteddfod.

Paul Robeson Knew My Father is a play set in the heart of the 1950s in the Rhondda Valley, where Gethyn is obsessed with two things: Robeson's Welsh film Proud Valley, and his missing father who once sung with the great man himself.

A fusion of live theatre, music and film, the play was rapturously received when it was first toured by theatre company Hijinx in 1999.

This time around, it's coming to Ebbw Vale itself to pick up some of Robeson's magic before going on to Cardiff.

Paul Robeson Knew My Father is at the Beaufort Theatre on Wednesday, September 22. Tickets are £6.50 or £5 concessions from the box office on 01495 350360.

The play is then at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff from Thursday to Saturday September 25.

Tickets are £10 or £8 from the box office on 02920 646900.