The Society for Theatre Research: Christmas Lecture

The Society for Theatre Research are thrilled to invite you to their Christmas lecture: AUDACIOUS MR. ASTLEY 

Date: Wednesday 18th December 2024

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: Art Workers’ Guild, London & Online

PERFORMED BY WRITER AND ACTOR CHRIS BARLTROP

Meet the man who invented English circus! With his wife (and bee-wrangler) at his side, war hero and trick-rider, Phillip Astley roped off a ring in an open field in Lambeth (London) and on Easter Monday in 1768 wowed crowds with astounding displays of equestrian expertise. Building on this early success, the couple added a clown, rope-walkers and acrobats to their presentation, and the circus was born. Premiered on the 250th anniversary of the first circus, on the very spot where that event took place, Barltrop’s play has toured the UK to much acclaim, including a coveted five-star rating at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His one-man play, Audacious Mr. Astley, pulls from his own experiences in the ring, and shares Astley’s story as the forefather of circus.

THE PERFORMER:

Writer and actor Chris Barltrop became involved with circus by chance and fell in love with the art-form. Chris trained for the stage at East 15 Acting School. In the early 70s he took ‘temporary’ work with a travelling circus and stayed on to become one of Britain’s most respected ringmasters. High-spots of his career include seven years of touring with the Moscow State Circus, many TV appearances, ringmastering abroad in French and in German, and taking part in two Royal Variety Performances. Between circus engagements, Chris has worked as a stage and TV actor and has also directed many plays.

You can join  in person at the AWG, or watch online via this YouTube link: https://youtube.com/live/6Bo-DYdCkNM?feature=share 

Please note, there will not be a Zoom link for this lecture – it will be livestreamed via the YouTube link above.

If you are joining us in person, please book a ticket online: Audacious Mr Astley (IN-PERSON BOOKINGS) – Society for Theatre Research

Venue & Transport Information:
The Art Workers’ Guild
6 Queen Square
London
WC1N 3AT
Nearest tube: Holborn or Russell Square. Buses: 59, 68, 168

If you have any questions, please contact our Lecture Series Coordinator Valerie Kaneko-Lucas via events@str.org.uk.