Siân Phillips and Robert Powell are to pay tribute to Colette, one of France’s greatest writers, for one evening only at Birmingham REP.
They will perform A Summer in the South, a celebration of her work, devised and directed by Richard Edmonds.
Edmonds has been a dance and theatre critic in the West Midlands for more than 20 years and has written and directed numerous recitals of poetry, prose and song that have been performed at various festivals. He explained his love for Colette began when he was a student.
“A Summer in the South came about in the south of France during a very hot summer when I was attending the University of Aix-Marseilles and was inspired by a French lecturer who was devoted to the writings of Colette.
“The piece was first performed at the Bromsgrove Festival and then later with Sylvia Syms and Edward Woodward. It’s had many performances since then including at the Edinburgh Festival and seasons at Kenwood House in Hampstead. It’s wonderful to be bringing it to Birmingham REP.”
Colette’s most famous work was her 1944 novella Gigi. The evening will offer many more fascinating episodes set against the Paris of la belle époque and World War I.
Siân Phillips last appeared at Birmingham REP in 2013 in Alan Bennett’s People—the production which reopened the REP during its centenary year. She was awarded a CBE for services to drama in 2000.
Robert Powell received a BAFTA nomination for his portrayal of Jesus in Franco Zefferelli’s Jesus of Nazareth. In his most recent stage performance he played Hercule Poirot in a tour of Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee.
A Summer in the South will be performed at Birmingham REP on Sunday 15 February at 7:30PM.