15 Apr 2024
The Company of Ten brings the complex life of a great composer to the Abbey Theatre Studio in April.
Elgar and Alice is a gripping drama that transports us back to the year 1920, offering compelling glimpses into the life of the enigma that was Sir Edward Elgar, his wife Alice, and his muse, ‘Windflower’.
Set in the Elgars’ comfortable home in Hampstead, the play delves into a marriage that was anything but conventional yet inspired a great composer to create some of the most iconic English music of the 20th century.
Written to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth, the play shows another side to the musical maestro, exploring his musical creative process. Elgar found the process of writing his Violin Concerto agonising at times; and it was his mistress, not his wife who acted as his confidante spurring him on when his creative energy flagged.
New Company of Ten member Dan Clucas, who plays Elgar, said: “I started out knowing nothing about the play. I couldn’t understand why Elgar would go from one emotion to another so quickly. How could he be such a mass of contradictions; angry, happy, hurtful, loving, funny and sad? Those contradictions are because of his genius, what he called ‘the monkey on my back’, making him one of the most fascinating and exciting characters an actor could wish to play. It’s a wonderful play, a secret gem that audiences will love.”
Director Tim Hoyle added: “Elgar and Alice is a fascinating play and one which is proving to be very rewarding for the cast and crew to explore. It will be a thoroughly enjoyable evening of theatre for everyone, whether you know Elgar’s music or not.”
Performances take place in the Abbey Theatre Studio from: Friday- Saturday April 19-20 at 8pm; Sunday April 21, 2.30pm; Tuesday-Saturday April 23-27 at 8pm.
To book tickets please go to www.abbeytheatre.org.uk or call the box office on 01727 857861.
