SEATS OF PLEASURE

Emeritus Professor Tony Bareham presents
SEATS OF PLEASURE A show for lovers of literature, music and art

A rare and wonderful look at eighteenth century Pleasure Gardens, as represented in literature, music and art of the period

Director: TONY BAREHAM
Musical Director: ERIC BOYD

ACTORS: Tony Bareham, Jeremy Lewis and Johanne Woods

THIS PRODUCTION IS UNIQUE TO COLERAINE'S RIVERSIDE THEATRE.


This will be the fifth of a series of shows directed by Professor Bareham, all with a similar format. The previous ones were on Charles Lever, on Lord Byron, Chasing The Cheerless Gloom (a meditation on Winter in literature and music), and Entrances and Exits: A Tribute to Shakespeare.

Readings from appropriate literary texts are accompanied by relevant projected images, and the readings are interspersed with songs and music appropriate to the period/theme. Musical Director is Eric Boyd.

Seats of Pleasure will take a look at the eighteenth century pleasure gardens as represented in literature, art and music. A significant number of novelists sent their characters to Vauxhall or Ranelagh, and the range of experiences – from near rape to innocent adulation – gives an entertaining cross section of voices and opinions.

These are strengthened by authentic accounts from travellers and visitors, who recorded their impressions.

Tony Bareham, who was responsible for generating the majority of student drama during the life of the New University of Ulster, has directed dozens of shows in Riverside during the last thirty five years, including Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth (twice) and The Merchant of Venice - along with Webster's Duchess of Malfi, Edward Albee's Zoo Story and two of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. He also premiered local author Des Cranston's play Personal Space in the Theatre, in one of Riverside's lunchtime drama presentations.Tony both directed and performed in Alan Ayckbourn's comedy "Ten Times Table", which he had been commissioned to present as the highlight of Riverside's 25th Anniversary celebrations.

TEACHERS - PLEASE NOTE
This production will be of educational use to any of your students studying state examinations in English Literature, History and Music.