David Benson Sings Noel Coward
Written and performed by David Benson. Produced by James Seabright.
Musical staging and piano accompaniment by Stewart Nicholls.
Assembly at George Street, 1 - 25 August (not 13 August) 3.40pm – 4.40 pm
Returning to the character he played in BBC series Goodnight Sweetheart, David Benson takes on Coward’s masterful songbook. This brand new show promises Benson at his best as singer, mpersonator, host and raconteur. With eight solo shows and over a decade’s experience of the fringe, Benson has a proven ability to sensitively portray some of the most famous performers of our time whilst offering new insight, dark humour and plentiful entertainment.
When David was twelve years old his grandfather gave him a 78rpm record of Coward singing his comic patter song The Stately Homes of England. He was immediately hooked. Now at last he is set to indulge his life-long passion for these songs with this sparkling tribute to The Master. Featured songs include Mad Dogs and Englishmen, London Pride, Mad About the Boy, I’ll See You Again, If Love Were All, and Mrs. northington.
Noël Coward was a writer, composer, performer and director. Born in Teddington, Middlesex in 1856, he began acting in the West-End at an early age and was famed on both sides of the Atlantic for his flamboyant lifestyle as well as his singing, acting, films, plays and music. During World War II, whilst seemingly living a luxurious and glamorous life, for which he was criticised, he was engaged for intelligence work by the Secret Service. Coward wrote and released some very popular songs during the war, the most famous of which are London Pride and Don't Let's Be Beastly To The Germans. He passed away in 1973 but his work continues to be seen and reimagined today, most notably recently with the West End production of Brief Encounter by Kneehigh Theatre.