Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel
A one-woman play with music created by Lucy Stevens
“Utterly absorbing and brilliantly done!”
Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel weaves the life of Virginia Woolf, as expressed in her own words, with music and songs by female composers who were her contemporaries – much of which is out of print and rarely performed.
Through Woolf’s writing, it reveals her troubled childhood and her views on literature, Bloomsbury and the challenges women face as artists.
‘Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel’ is the latest collaboration between professional actor and classical singer, Lucy Stevens and pianist Elizabeth Marcus, a Fellow and Professor of Harpsichord at Guildhall School of Music. Following their previous acclaimed plays about women in music:
‘Ethel Smyth: Grasp the Nettle’ Superb acting and vocal performances … Funny, touching and uplifting – A must see!” Light Music Society.
‘Kathleen Ferrier Whattalife!’ “ … superbly gifted, Lucy Stevens, with a voice of this calibre, it would be easy for a singer to indulge, but Whattalife! is a seamless balance of speech and music”. localsecrets.com.
Being Human Festival 2019
Audience responses to performed excerpts on 20 November 2019 in the Shaw Library, London School of Economics.
Laura Doddington Photography
Performance Diary – Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel
2021
October
Sat 30 – Lighthouse 21 Kingsland Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1UG Tickets
November
Wed 24 – The Guildhall Arts Center, Grantham, St Peter’s Hill NG31 Tickets
Thurs 25 – Louth Riverhead Theatre, Victoria Road, Louth, LN11 Tickets
2022
January
Wed 26 – Bucks Federation of Women’s Institude Longueville Hall, Milton Keynes.
Sun 30 – Dorchester Corn Exchange, High East St, Dorset DT1 1HF (TBC)
July
Sat 23 – Church Stretton Arts Festival, Shropshire Hills.
Past Performances
2021
Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel
24 Oct – Blackheath Halls London. “Superb production … from conception to enactment, and represents the best of live theatre! What a joy!” Hilary De Santos
14 Oct – Theatre Royal Winchester, Jewry Street, Winchester. “a most extraordinary evening … challenging, enlightening, entertaining, chilling, informative, alluring, beautiful, funny and deeply inspiring … like floating on top of a wave – joyous one moment and dashed onto the pebbles the next. We felt drawn into [Virginia Woolf’s] stream of consciousness – sometimes playful, sometimes heart-rending.” Helen Williams
Ethel Smyth: Grasp the Nettle / Virginia Woolf: an Illustrated Talk with Songs / Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel
July 12 – 15 Deal Music Arts Festival 2021 “Each festival we have a few things that stand out. This year, without doubt, [Ethel Smyth: Grasp the Nettle & Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel] have made a profound impression. It is as if we were in the presence of these great ladies. Elizabeth sensitive accompanying was utterly brilliant, thus heightening the dramatic impact hugely. An experience that will stay with us for a long time to come … Informing us about the need to champion the music and art of women far more boldly. Times are changing … Thank you for helping make that change so magnificently.” Paul Max Edlin Artistic Director Deal Music & Arts
Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel
July 3 – London Song Festival Hinde Street, London. “Utterly absorbing and brilliantly done!” Anthony Ingle “Utterly brilliant performance – the whole audience was spellbound throughout. So wonderful to hear all those rarely heard song gems by women composers too – a very special afternoon.” Nigel Foster LSF Director
2020
October 24 & 25 – Bloomsbury Festival – Holy Cross Church, London WC1 “I’m buzzing after seeing Lucy Stevens new play #KillingtheAngel. The script is entirely extracted from Virginia Woolf’s novels, essays & life writing, with insight into Woolf’s groundbreaking feminist work in the context of her patriarchal upbringing. Don’t miss this!!!” Lana Bode
March 15 – North London Lauderdale House, Highgate Hill, London “This was such a great show Lucy Stevens amazing performance as Virginia Woolf and well deserved standing ovation at Lauderdale House” Mrs Shaw Herself
March – Stamford Arts Centre St Mary’s Street, Stamford, Lincs. “Dramatic and informative telling of this compelling story. The music included a wide variety of songs, Lucy with a warm, rich contralto voice and even an extract from Beethoven’s opus 111 piano sonata, beautifully played by Liz Marcus. I came away with new insights into the complex character of one of our literary greats and enthused to read and learn more”. Martin Fellows
March – Redbridge Drama Centre, East London “A stunning piece of research, writing, acting singing and production – and unearthing some little known aspects of VW’s life. A valuable contribution. Brava” Janet Gibson, Convenor of the Opera All Party Parliamentary Group
Contact – information and bookings
Penny Mayes (producer) penny@dramatic-solutions.co.uk call +44 7790 456169
Lucy Stevens www.lucystevens.com
Virginia Woolf: Killing the Angel 