BYRON IN VENICE

Byron's awkward adolescence was followed by extensive travel. His writings brought him fame, but also notoriety. After only a year his marriage failed - there were whispers of incest and sodomy; he was hissed at in the street. He was forced to leave England - and his creditors. He'd spent the summer in Geneva with the poet Shelley and the young girls - Mary, Shelley's mistress, and her stepsister Claire, who pursued Byron. Shelley, Mary and Claire returned to England; Byron went to Italy. He arrived in Venice ...

Byron in Venice is an evening of letters and poetry written during the three years while Lord Byron was in Venice, at the height of his creativity - at his most ingenious, delightful - and sardonic. Byron's words alone create an exciting evening with vivid descriptions of the places and people that he knew. Byron loved to shock - but he never lost his love of beauty, so of course he loved Italy.

Byron is at his most provocative, creating a kaleidoscope of emotions - loneliness, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, love and hate ... but never without a sense of humor. He describes the beauty and excitement of the city and the colorful people around him and proclaims, "I have not yet sinned against Venice in verse, nor do I intend to do so!" But before long he is again working on poems both witty and profound - in particular the haunting 'We'll go no more A Roving' and his comic masterpiece, 'Don Juan'.

The presentation, which adapts well to large meeting rooms, lecture halls, and Stately Homes as well as to small theatres, lasts 60 minutes, without intermission, and can be adapted to a shorter running time if desired.

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT PERFORMANCE. EXTREMELY FLATTERING REMARKS WERE MADE AFTER THE SHOW - YOU CERTAINLY DESERVED THEM!
Curator, Keats House, Hampstead

ANOTHER SPLENDID PRESENTATION - A DELIGHTFUL EVENING!
President, Associazione Culturale Italo-Britannica, Ravenna

Dear Ian and Bill,

This is to thank you formally on behalf of the London Borough of Camden for your great performance of 'Byron in Venice' for the benefit of Keats House. There were some extremely flattering remarks being made after the show which I hope reached your ears - you certainly deserved them.

Meanwhile, it only remains for me to thank you wholeheartedly again and to recommend you to the Keats-Shelley Museum in Rome.

Yours most sincerely,

 Mrs C. M. Gee
Curator.
KEATS HOUSE
KEATS GROVE
" HAMPSTEAD
LONDON NW3 2RR

 

TO REPEAT: If you are interested in a performance, or can suggest a contact by name who might be, please get in touch with us. We travel and our fees are flexible - relating to the venue and the funding available.

 

... And now presenting ...

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

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

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