The Comic Muse – the Story of Famed 18th Century Soprano Kitty Clive

Hackney Music Live and Abney Park Trust present the award-winning early music ensemble Apollo’s Cabinet, as they give the first London performance of their new album celebrating the life and times of actor, singer, comedian and women’s rights activist, Kitty Clive (1711–85).

Kitty Clive, a major celebrity of her time, negotiated the raucous, fast-moving and sometimes unforgiving London theatre scene with intelligence and grace. Playing 184 theatre roles over 22 years, by the early 1740s she was the highest paid player at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and working with Handel on his oratorio compositions, before being defamed by male colleagues, losing her popularity and being subsequently forgotten by historians.

This semi-staged concert tells the story of Kitty Clive’s life, with English theatre music from the time together with arias she would have performed. This immersive performance bridges the gap between audience and performers, with narration, acting and audience participation.

With music by Geminiani, Arne and Handel.

Apollo’s cabinet

Apollo’s Cabinet are an award winning group of musicians who combine acting, dancing, poetry and drama to bring historical performance to modern audiences.

Jonatan Bougt (theorbo, baroque guitar)

Harry Buckoke (viola da gamba)

Thomas Pickering (harpsichord, recorder, flute)

Teresa Wrann (recorder)

“Baroque meets Bridgerton” - Göttinger Tagblatt

For this performance they are joined by soprano Lauren Lodge-Campbell and special guests, London-based Bulgarian violinist Sophia Prodanova and Belfast-born baritone Malachy Frame.

Generously supported by grants from Continuo Foundation, Golsoncott Foundation, Unity Theatre Trust and Arts Council England and Kindly supported by Making Music’s Philip & Dorothy Green Young Artists scheme, and by grants from Arts Council England, Continuo Foundation, Golsoncott Foundation, and Unity Theatre Trust.

For more information on Hackney Music Live go tho their website hackneymusiclive.co.uk