In the Spring of 2023, cellist Liz Andrews came to me with an idea for a show. She told me the story of Beatrice Harrison, who on the 19th of May 1924, played her cello in her garden in Oxted, Surrey with the Nightingale singing in the background. This was recorded and aired live for the first time, on BBC Radio for millions of listeners. The director of the BBC at the time was a little sceptical that the bird would sing. But it did.
Now approaching the 100 year anniversary, Liz Andrews and I have been performing ‘The Nightingale and Other Birds’ to a diverse audience in London venues, including the Vellum Mill Gallery, Brio Button House, The Woodfield Pavilion and upcoming at the Carshalton Water Tower, in mid May.
One key aspect of the performance is the gorgeous cello music from Liz, which makes this show so unique and uplifting.
There was also poetry, and I told two versions of The Nightingale. The first, was a version from Duncan Williamson, and I must thank Linda Williamson for transcribing this story and also for allowing me the honour to use this story as part of our set. The other version was the Hans Christian Andersen classic.
The responses from the audience have been fabulous.
Thank you to the owners and custodians of the old water mill that is now the Vellum Mill Gallery, Emma James and Stuart James for the opportunity for Liz Andrews and me, to perform. To the management and residents of Brio Button House for being to welcoming and supportive and finally to the Woodfield Pavilion and the Woodfield Project team for providing such a fabulous venue in the heart of Tooting Common. Christy Billings from the South London Storytelling team came along and helped us welcome the guests, set up and take down. Thank you Chrsity!
A big thank you again to our wonderful audience and followers. Liz and I really appreciate it. Art has featured in our performances and thanks to Neal Vaughan for sharing his fabulous charcoal drawings for the backdrop at Vellum Mill Gallery, and to Abel Kesteven for sketching throughout the evening. I have shared some of the artwork and also a special portrait of me in action, by Neal. We also had wonderful pictures sketched throughout our performance by our family audience, at the Woodfield Pavilion event.
Speaking of pictures, photographer Peter Ball captured some wonderful shots while we were performing at the Vellum Mill Gallery. I know I move around a fair bit, so Peter was laughing with me after the show, about photographing me in low light.
We had our final performance at Carshalton Water Tower on the 18th May, on the eve of the 100 year anniversary. What a beautiful setting with a magnificent audience.
My favourite memory was when a member of the audience came up to me at the end and said that as a little girl she loved storytelling and still does.
‘You want to know something Andy?’ she asked, without waiting for me to answer.
‘People do not live long enough to understand the power of a story!”
I will never forget that.
Liz and I are hoping this will become an annual Spring performance, and it can only get better.
We will keep you updated for the plans of 2025!