Back story of Coward and Lawrence at PFT
Hebrides Ensemble, Scotland’s foremost chamber music group, will be streamed live across the world it performs at Perth Concert Hall on Monday, March 13.
The live streaming of the lunchtime concert marks the Ensemble’s commitment to reaching audiences in remote and rural places across the country, as well as engaging musiclovers all over the world with high quality performances coming out of Scotland.
This performance sees the Ensemble join forces with BBC Arts Digital who will be showing the concert on its dedicated arts site www. bbc.co.uk/arts.
Members of the public are also encouraged to tune-in to watch the concert live on www. hebridesensemble.com or to view at a later date as the concert will be available on-demand for the next 12 months.
Jennifer Martin, Chief Executive of Hebrides Ensemble said: “We see ourselves as an international Ensemble so it’s wonderful to be able to reach audiences wherever they are.” Details and tickets at www.horsecross. co.uk or 01738 621031. Tickets are selling fast in Highland Perthshire for a musical comedy based on one of the most fascinating relationships in theatre history.
The production – Noel and Gertie – explores the complex and often contradictory friendship of playwright and songwriter Noel Coward and actress Gertrude Lawrence and will run at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre on Saturday, March 18.
A revival of Sheridan Morley’s hit play that originally ran in the West End for nine years, it was crafted from diaries and letters between the pair which reveal their bond could be “romantic and platonic, passionate and comfortable and complicated and simple”.
Matthew Townshend, the director and producer, said: “This extraordinary duo shared a puzzling and yet perfect connection and this play effortlessly encapsulates this very multifaceted love story.
“It also epitomises an era of sophistication and elegance and features songs, sketches and snippets of scenes from some of Coward’s most famous work.
“This year is the tenth anniversary of Morley’s death and so the play is being revived as a celebration of his life.
“It’s a show not to miss which is why seats are selling out fast.”
Helen Power, who has previously appeared in Sunset Boulevard on the West End will play Gertie, while Ben The Hebrides Ensemble Helen Power portrays Gertrude Lawrence n the play
Stock, whose credits include West End performances of Grease and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, will play Coward.
Musical direction is by the acclaimed Steven Edis and live piano accompaniment is provided by Jonathan Lee. For more info visit www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com