Stefan Bednarczyk Performs Herbert Farjeon

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Last Show: Thursday 15 th August 2019

The Pheasantry (Chelsea)

Following his internationally acclaimed shows examining Noel Coward and Flanders & Swann, Stefan Bednarczyk turns his attention to the now largely forgotten life and works of Herbert Farjeon. Farjeon was hugely influential in the British theatre from 1910 until his early death in 1945. A poet, critic, essayist, Shakespearean scholar,Sketch writer, lyricist, playwright and manager - he was renowned for his West End revues. He discovered Joyce Grenfell, giving her her first professional & West End roles; his best-known song "I danced with a man ... who danced with the Prince of Wales" was condemned by the Daily Mail ! Stefan believes that much,much more of his work deserves to be rediscovered and heard again.

"Beautifully performed material from a hitherto unexplored source. What a fresh, surprising and hilarious treat."

Sian Phillips

"Time stood still today as Stefan Bednarczyk gave us a glorious 90 minutes in the brilliant world of Herbert Farjeon. A complete joy." Gyles Brandreth

Stefan read music at Oxford University and was a choral scholar at Queen’s College. After a spell writing for Granada Television, he moved to London where his extensive credits as Musical Director include shows at the National Theatre, the Barbican, the Almeida, Hampstead Theatre, Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, St James Theatre and the British premiere of 'Boy Meets Boy' at the Jermyn Street Theatre, a theatre with whom he has enjoyed a long relationship. He has also enjoyed long relationships with the Warehouse Theatre, Croydon – composing and directing the scores for over 30 productions, including Dick Barton – Special Agent, which toured the UK for 2 years – and with the Nottingham Playhouse, where the adaptation of 'Forever Young' he co-authored with Giles Croft has returned by popular demand four times. Other credits as Musical Director include shows in Oxford, Sheffield, Bolton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Swansea, Chichester and Edinburgh.

As a cabaret performer he has enjoyed seasons at The Crazy Coqs, The Pheasantry, Pizza on the Park, King’s Head and Jermyn Street Theatres in London. He has also worked overseas in Antibes, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Malaga, Dubai, Adelaide, Barbados, and Vienna. His acclaimed show 'An Evening Of Flanders And Swann' – originally commissioned by the widows of Michael and Donald – has been seen in Australia, the Middle East, India and Europe – as well as throughout the UK, including 2 sell-out seasons at the Jermyn Street Theatre.  'Stefan Bednarczyk Sings Noel Coward' received its premiere at The Crazy Coqs in Piccadilly Circus in July 2013. An huge critical and box-office success, it returned there twice, before being seen in France, Monaco and the Caribbean. The show 'Just In Time' – a celebration of the lives and works of Comden and Green, which he co-devised and performs with Anne Reid – has enjoyed sell-out runs at the St James Studio, Crazy Coqs, London Festival Of Cabaret, Pheasantry and Red Pear Theatre in Antibes, and Stefan and Anne performed it at 'Feinstein’s 54Below' in New York in October 2015.