Apologies for cross-posting
The Wedgwood Museum presents
BETTER THAN A DOG!
The relationship of Charles and Emma Darwin
Compiled by Andrew Bannerman
Sunday 14th June – Curtain up at 4pm
When Charles Darwin returned from the Voyage of the Beagle in 1836, his
brain was seething with all that he had discovered and collected on the
voyage. He flung himself into the work of cataloguing specimens and writing
reports. The idea, which became The Origin of Species, was already taking
shape in his mind. Yet he was still in his twenties and in weary moments in his
dingy rooms in London, other thoughts presented themselves. Probably with
his tongue in his cheek, he drew up an extraordinary list of all the arguments
for and against marriage. It is from this list that the title of Andrew
Bannerman’s piece is taken.
The result was marriage to his first cousin, Emma Wedgwood in January 1839.
She was devout, musical and sociable. He was agnostic, consumed by his
work and a nervous recluse, prone to sickness and anxiety. Yet he was also a
jovial father and adoring husband of the woman, who supported him for over
forty years of public controversy and private anguish. The death of his
favourite daughter, Annie, provoked one of the most moving and unexpected
eulogies ever recorded.
The story of their life together is told here through the letters, which they
wrote to each other, to relatives and to their children. Triumph and tragedy,
humour and heartache all play their part in this extraordinary love-story, which
reveals the very private life of one of the most publicly celebrated scientists
of all time.
“Thrilled the audience ….. incredibly moving” – Shropshire Star
“a totally different view of Darwin as loving father and adoring husband, with a
great sense of humour” – Shrewsbury Chronicle.
ANDREW BANNERMAN is a writer, director and actor, who has performed in
theatres and at literary festivals throughout the country. His co-performer
ROSIE BYRD trained at the Birmingham Theatre School, then acted in London
and after a spell with Pentabus Touring Theatre, recently returned to
Birmingham to play Gertrude in Hamlet.
Tickets: £20 (£18 for Wedgwood Museum Members)
Ticket price includes refreshments in the interval
Tickets available from [log in to unmask]
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