Never Such Innocence

The pianist Gamal Khamis and I are delighted to be returning to St Mary's Perivale on Sunday 5th November at 3pm for a live and live-streamed performance of NEVER SUCH INNOCENCE, our acclaimed narrative recital of words and music from the First World War. First performed in 2016 as part of the Somme 100 commemorations it has since been seen in concert venues, theatres and festivals across the UK, including sell-out performances in London's West End and it was described as “an incredibly moving performance” when it was featured on BBC Radio 3's In Tune.

NEVER SUCH INNOCENCE tells the story of my own great uncle, nineteen-year-old conscript Private Percy O'Key, through his real-life letters and diaries, interspersed with piano music of the period by composers including Elgar, Ravel, Debussy and Ivor Gurney and the words of writers such as Wilfred Owen, Edward Thomas, Siegfried Sassoon and Vera Brittain.

"A moving and compelling journey from innocence to loss, told with unflinching clarity and compassion."

3pm Sunday 5th November

St Mary's Perivale, Perivale Lane, London, UB6 8SS

(Admission free with retiring collection)

And live online at: www.st-marys-perivale.org.uk

Audience comments from previous performances:

“Very special, deeply moving and immensely absorbing.”

“Spell-binding… so compelling to watch and listen to”

"The most amazing evening... one of the most moving and thought-provoking events I have ever attended."

“Beautifully nuanced show – tender, moving, angry