The Soldier's Tale

In a tale for our times, Alistair McGowan leads three actors in Stravinsky’s 1918 masterpiece, The Soldier’s Tale. Part anti-war, part Russian fable, it’s a satirical story of a soldier, his violin, and the Devil.

A punchy evening of 20^th century classics in the intimacy of the Corn Exchange, showcasing juicy cabaret tunes, subversive jazz and politics.

The first half opens with a treat – Stravinsky’s stunningly cool Ebony Concerto, a homage to 1940s jazz and premiered by Woody Herman’s band. Darius Milhaud’s ballet score explores the creation of the world, based on African folk mythology and is emboldened by le jazz hot of Josephine Baker’s 1920s Paris; while Kurt Weill’s boisterous Threepenny Opera Suite takes us to Weimar Berlin – with Mack the Knife, Cannon Song, Tango Ballad and more.

In the second half, a complete performance of Stravinsky’s sharply observed, jazzily scored parable The Soldier’s Tale. Can you take on the Devil and win?