DANGEROUS TO KNOW –A new play to mark the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron’s death in Greece April 1824 at The Lantern Theatre for the Brighton Fringe Thurs 8 – Sat 10 May
“With outstanding performances and beautiful writing, this is theatre that celebrates how placing women centre stage is highly engaging, fascinating and vital.” The Reviews Hub
July 1841, St Mary Magdalene Church, Hucknall Torkard.
Claire Clairmont, Lord Byron’s former mistress, has just laid her mother to rest before heading back to Europe. However, a secret passed to Claire at the funeral has raked up painful memories about their scandalous affair and a nagging conviction that she must uncover the truth.
Resolving she cannot do this alone, Claire co-opts her stepsister, Mary Shelley, author of ‘Frankenstein’ to help. After all, Mary was part of the Byron set; she’ll know what to do. But the past is sordid, murky and digging for answers requires getting your hands dirty. And are they prepared for what will be unearthed?
Blood will out, as will hearts and brains. A long-buried anguish demands satisfaction.
“In Mary Shelley’s day society dictated the need for women to be wives. If not, the other paths were decidedly perilous: spinster, divorced, widow, harlot…corpse,” said the play’s writer and performer, Deborah Clair. “Mary and Claire were completely off-grid with their choices – elopement, travel, children out of wedlock; Mary was also a thinker and writer. Their lives straddled two eras – Romantic and Victorian – and the latter really didn’t know what to do with them!”
As well as playing the role of Mary, Deborah is director of CLAIR/OBSCUR – a female led-theatre company dedicated to placing inspiring women of the past centre-stage. Dangerous to Know is directed by Lucy Speed who starred in EastEnders and The Bill and is currently playing Stella in The Archers.
- For more details including review tickets and press interviews contact Deborah at: [email protected] or call her on 07931 980 818.
- Image attached: Chantal Riches (Claire Clairmont) Deborah Clair (Mary Shelley). More images are available upon request. Please contact Deborah at: [email protected] or on 07931 980 818.
Listings information
Dangerous to Know is part of the Brighton Fringe at The Lantern Theatre, 77 St James’s St, Brighton BN2 1PA at 9.00 pm. Tickets: £13/£10 Book Tickets: What’s On Shows Lantern Theatre Brighton |
