“George Eliot was such a fascinating woman and had such an incredible life. She was absolutely doing her own thing regardless of society and its constraints, so her story is very uplifting and empowering,” SuRie tells us.
The famous author who brought us Middlemarch, Adam Bede, Silas Marner and Mill On The Floss to name but a few, is getting her moment in the sun again thanks to new show George Eliot In Words & Music, coming to Oxford Playhouse on April 22.
Featuring Eliot’s immortal words, interwoven with dazzling music by contemporary female singer-songwriters including Kate Bush, Florence + the Machine and FKA twigs played by Orchestra Of The Swan, SuRie stars on stage alongside famous actress Hermione Norris.
So what can we expect? “George Eliot In Words & Music is funny, fascinating and heartfelt. Eliot was quite a radical, and Hamblett Productions have turned Deirdre Shields‘ script into a really fantastic show, so we can’t wait to bring it to Oxford Playhouse,” SuRie says.
Singer/songwriter and musician SuRie, who represented the UK at Eurovision 2018 (her live song Storm was infamously interrupted by a man invading the stage) has also played a pivotal role in George Eliot In Words & Music‘s development.
‘you don’t need to know about George Eliot to enjoy this, because the show explores the woman and her work’
Because not only did she compose the music accompanying Eliot’s poems, but helped choose the soundscape playlist, as well as playing 10 different roles on stage opposite Hermione Norris.
“When we debuted George Eliot In Words & Music in Coventry in the audience loved it. We weren’t expecting a standing ovation but it was very gratifying when we got one,” SuRie laughs, “because it is so insightful, entertaining and uplifting.”
“But you don’t need to know about George Eliot to enjoy this, because the show explores the woman and her work.”
Those of you who saw Anton Lesser in Red Sky at Sunrise: Laurie Lee in Words & Music at Oxford Playhouse READ THE REVIEW HERE will know of Hambletts Productions‘ habit of taking famous authors and scripting their lives and work to music. From Hardy to Dickens, they have wowed audiences all over the country.
And now it’s George Eliot’s turn. So why did SuRie sign up immediately? “The minute musical director David Le Page started describing the Eliot project to me I knew it was right up my street,” she says. “And then, while researching Eliot’s work, I came across her poems and as I read them I could hear the music, so sat down at the piano and started composing.
“The music just flowed from her words and luckily Hambletts and Orchestra Of The Swan loved them, so this has been a really enjoyable process where the music sits so easily around the words.
“But more than that George Eliot In Words & Music it great fun and a wonderful night at the theatre.”
George Eliot In Words & Music starring Hermione Norris, SuRie and Orchestra of the Swan comes to Oxford playhouse on Tuesday April 22. Book here https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/george-eliot-in-words-music
