Vivian Stanshall’s Sir Henry at Rawlinson End

It is 20 years since the untimely passing of singer/songwriter Vivian Stanshall. Known for his exquisitely off the wall radio saga Sir Henry at Rawlinson End which regularly appeared on the John Peel Show, Stanshall is regarded as one of the greatest unsung cultural genius’ of the 20th Century.

Buxton Opera House is welcoming a critically-acclaimed stage version of Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, promising all the eccentric goings-on from the original surreal but fond masterpiece.  Staring Mike Livesley (who ‘embodies to perfection the spirit and brilliance of Vivian Stanshall’ – Stephen Fry), together with his live band Brainwashing House, the fictional Stately home of Rawlinson’s End and its inhabitants are expertly brought to life.

Combining music, dancing and idiosyncratic flourishes, the plot centres on Sir Henry who is trying to exorcize the ghost of his late older brother Hubert. Gaining rave reviews by fellow Bonzo Neil Innes and Rick Wakeman, and described by MOJO as one of the richest texts in the English comic language, Sir Henry’s world is a weird and wonderful one to be submerged into. The production has delighted fans of the original and ‘educated and elucidated’ those who heard about it after the great man died in 1995.

Vivian Stanshall’s Sir Henry at Rawlinson End takes place on Sunday 2 August at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £17 to £20.50 and discounts are available. To buy tickets or for more information call the box office on 01298 72190 or visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk