The Liberty Tree – The Life, Times & Writings of Tom Paine

Leon Rosselson and Robb Johnson perform a musical event interspersed with contemporary songs that reflect Paine’s ideas. These were influenced by the American War of Independence and were influential on the French Revolution.

“When the rich plunder the poor of his rights, it becomes an example to the poor to plunder the rich of his property.”
Thomas Paine

The Liberty Tree tells the story of Tom Paine’s extraordinary life, interweaving Paine’s own words, from his letters and the pamphlets which made him one of the most influential and dangerous writers of his age, with extracts from newspaper reports, diaries, letters and other documents of the times. The songs of Robb Johnson and Leon Rosselson add another dimension to the story, reflecting Paine’s radical ideas and evaluating them in the context of the 21st century. This unique blend of words and music challenges received opinion in the same way Paine’s writings did.

“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any Church that I know of. MY OWN MIND IS MY OWN CHURCH.”

The Liberty Tree (1646–1775) was a famous elm tree that stood in Boston near Boston Common, in the days before the American Revolution. Ten years before the American Revolution, colonists in Boston staged the first act of defiance against the British government at the tree. The tree became a rallying point for the growing resistance to the rule of Britain over the American colonies. (Wikipedia)