BYRON, A CELEBRATION: The Postscript

An anthology which includes some fascinating biographical material not previously used, some of our amusing experiences while touring with BYRON IN HELL: His Life & Loves, and a diverting glance at what happened to some of that 'supporting cast'. At the special request of our audiences, more of Byron's poetry is included with a subject on which he was something of an expert ... Love! The show ends with the powerful political statements made by Lord Byron in Parliament in 1812 which have amazing relevance today.

Although BYRON, A CELEBRATION was conceived to be seen at venues where we had already performed BYRON IN HELL, it has also been designed to be enjoyed by others who have little or no knowledge of Lord Byron or the previous one-man show.

The set includes portraits of Byron's wife, sister, children, friends and mistresses, engravings of Newstead Abbey, Annesley Hall, Casa Magni and Missolonghi, the Elgin marbles, and newspaper cartoons. The freestanding set and small amount of furniture adapts well to large meeting rooms, lecture halls, and Stately Homes as well as to small and medium-size theatres. Running time: 90 minutes plus intermission. A shorter version lasting 60 minutes is also available.

AN ENTERTAINING, EXCITING EVENING IN THE THEATRE!
Braunschweig Zeitung

IAN'S PERFORMANCES WERE UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS INTERNATIONAL BYRON FESTIVAL. BYRON, A CELEBRATION: The Postscript WAS PARTICULARLY ENJOYABLE.
Denis Robinson: The Hucknall Dispatch

There could be grounds for skepticism: in an age of electronic entertainment with every trick at its disposal, a one-man play with a famous English Romantic as 'hero' and, of course, in English - can that work? It can - if someone is as fascinated by the subject of his performance as English actor Ian Frost. He has been performing BYRON, A CELEBRATION: The Postscript , written by Bill Studdiford [and directed by Judith Joseph], at the Christophorus-Schule at the invitation of the Braunschweig Players with funding by the British Council.

Studdiford conceived his play as a mixture of documentary, biography and presentations from Byron's works. George Gordon Lord Byron (1788-1823) was not only famous for his poetry - his success with women also contributed to his legend, as did his personal involvement in the liberation of Greece from the Turks and his support of the poor of Nottingham, who faced starvation because of Industrial Revolution.

Ian Frost began in an informal manner in conversation with a radio interviewer, chatting about the famous personality ... dropping spicy tidbits ... hinting ... and thereby making his audience curious. With great dramatic sensitivity he then slipped into the role of the young Byron, shocking the authorities at Harrow, the famous public school, and starting a flirtation with a distant cousin. What followed were stations of a dramatic life, which Frost used to illuminate Byron's personality - sometimes from the point of view of other characters, sometimes as Byron in a dialogue with one of the many people he loved. At other times he recounts meetings and events that happened while he and the playwright were researching or performing their plays.

The light tone at the beginning of the play turned more serious. We come to the tragic events in Byron's life: the death of his child, the loss of his friend Shelley. The evening ends with the speech in Parliament in which Byron passionately demanded understanding and help for the workers made needy by mechanical progress.

This is an entertaining and exciting evening in the theatre, which removes all language barriers.

A NEW LOOK AT THE NOTORIOUS LORD - 'The Best Yet!'

Adapted by BILL STUDDIFORD • Directed by JUDITH JOSEPH

... And now presenting ...

Three Romantics: BYRON, KEATS & SHELLEY!

TO GO TO ONE OF THE NINE PLAYS, CLICK ON THE ICON ABOVE

'BYRON', 'KEATS', 'SHELLEY' - BILL and IAN,
all look forward to hearing from you ... and hopefully arranging a booking !

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