Jacqui Dankworth In “Shakespeare And All That Jazz”

One of Britain’s most highly-regarded vocalists is to appear in a unique show at East Riding Theatre, Beverley, marking the 400th anniversary of the death of the man widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, William Shakespeare.

In “Shakespeare and All The Jazz”, Jacqui Dankworth, daughter of Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine, will be revisiting the music composed by her late father and performed in its entirety for the first time since Dame Cleo recorded the album “Wordsongs” in the 1980’s.

The brilliance of the music, the genius of Shakespeare’s poetry and world class musicians, combined with Jacqui’s emotional and virtuosic voice, will make for a very special concert on Sunday September 11. Settings include “Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day”, “O Mistress Mine” , ” Fear No More The Heat O’ The Sun” the story of “Macbeth” and a comical setting of Shakespeare’s complete works.

Jacqui is a highly-regarded performer and successful touring artist and with this very important anniversary she feels it would be complete madness not to bring to life these wonderful settings – in a different reincarnation.

She last performed some of the music 30 years ago, having been invited by Sam Wanamaker to help raise money for the Globe Theatre on London’s South Bank.

Jacqui is also a seasoned actress having studied at the Guildhall School Of Music And Drama, where she was made a fellow. She has worked with the RSC, National Theatre, toured the UK and India with John Dexter’s theatre company, played Cinderella in Stephen Sondheim’s debut West End production of “Into The Woods” and appeared in many other West End productions, including “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”, and “Sophisticated Ladies” (a review of the music of Duke Ellington).

Tickets for Shakespeare and All That Jazz are priced from £15 to £21 and are available via the theatre’s box office, 01482 874050, or website, www.eastridingtheatre.co.uk

* ERT’s inaugural Shakespeare production, Hamlet, opens on September 23 and runs until October 15.