Shakespeare and Faure’s Requiem are part of Chester Cathedral’s programme of events for the centenary of the First World War Armistice.
The Rev’d Dr Paul Edmondson, Director of Learning and Research at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, preached a sermon on War and Shakespeare in Henry V on Monday and later this week award-winning theatre company Antic Disposition will present their critically acclaimed adaptation of Henry V.
The play, this Thursday 18, Friday 19, and Saturday 20 October, is part of Antic Disposition’s tour of ten of our cathedrals during this Armistice year. Moving effortlessly between 1415 and 1915, Henry V combines Shakespeare’s epic history play with original songs inspired by the poetry of AE Housman in a powerful tribute to the young soldiers caught up in conflicts five centuries apart.
Tickets: £25 – £35. 7pm for 7.30pm start.
There will be a Service of Remembrance on Sunday 4 November with The King’s School at 3.30pm, and a Concert of Remembrance at 7.30pm on Saturday 11 November. The concert will see the Choir of Chester Cathedral joined by the world-famous orchestra of St John’s, Smith Square, in a performance of Fauré’s Requiem. Other music will include popular works by Brahms, Stanford and Parry. Accompanied by readings of poetry and letters from the front line.
Tickets: £12.50 – £20
At 6am – the exact time the Armistice was signed on 11 November, 1918 – about 1,000 pipers around the world will fill the air with a rendition of Pipe William Robb’s evergreen retreat march, When the Battle’s O’er.
At Chester Cathedral, a piper will play from the top of the cathedral tower. All are welcome to join the Service of Remembrance at 10 am followed by an Act of Remembrance at 11am at the War Memorial.
Later that day at 6.30pm there will be service of Readings and Music to mark the end of the Centenary Commemorations of World War I. The service includes Bible readings and poetry by Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, and ends with a Vigil of Light and Hope.
Tickets are available from the Chester Cathedral Welcome Desk, by calling 01244 500959 or by visiting the Chester Cathedral website here.
