PAST, PRESENT AND FANTASY COLLIDE IN COMPOSER HENRY PURCELL'S FEVER DREAMS

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A concertplay by award-winning writer Clare Norburn and directed by BAFTA-nominated director Nicholas Renton.

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1695: in his final illness, composer Henry Purcell (Niall Ashdown) is experiencing feverish dream-like hallucinations in which the past, present and fantasy collide, and his songs take on a life of their own. His bedroom transforms into a theatre, and Purcell revisits his past including his childhood memories of the Great Fire of London and his early romance with his wife.

Interwoven into the drama are Purcell's compositions: from bawdy theatre ballads and joyful celebrations of love, to slow airs, a ‘mad song’, and numbers from his semi-operas.

Written in 2018, originally titled Burying the Dead and performed by Ceruleo, the show has been performed at Buxton International Festival, Lake District Summer Music, Saxon Shore Early Music, Baroque at the Edge at LSO St Luke’s, Ryedale Festival, Brighton Early Music Festival and York Early Music Christmas Festival.

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★★★★

“this is one show that deserves greater exposure…”

The Times

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★★★★

“… the way the drama allowed a remarkable cross section of Purcell’s music to be performed was quite striking.”

Planet Hugill