GEORGE Eliot in Words and Music
Presented by Hambletts with Orchestra of the Swan

A celebration of the genius who wrote Middlemarch (based on Coventry), with music by contemporary female singer-songwriters: this is George Eliot for the 21st Century.

Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Austin, Smack the Pony) - brings George Eliot to dazzling life in Eliot’s own words, through her great novels - Middlemarch, The Mill on the Floss, Adam Bede - and letters, poetry and journalism. In tune with Eliot’s bold radicalism, her words are woven with music by contemporary female singer-songwriters - from Kate Bush to Florence Welch; FKA twigs to Sandy Denny - performed live by Eurovision star, SuRie and Orchestra of the Swan.

Sally Phillips gives voice to the genius who was shunned in her lifetime, but went on to write Middlemarch, and became the second richest woman in England, after Queen Victoria. Sally performs alongside singer-songwriter SuRie, who represented the UK at Eurovision 2018, and won the 2024 Offie for Lead Performance in a Musical. Together they play numerous roles, from Eliot and her immortal characters, to Charles Dickens and Vincent Van Gogh.

Orchestra of the Swan’s Musical Director, David Le Page captures Eliot’s timeless work in a music programme that features contemporary, female singer-songwriters. The Swan’s musicians perform on-stage in the heart of the action, alongside Sally Phillips and SuRie. The script is written and adapted by Deirdre Shields (Red Sky at Sunrise: Laurie Lee in Words & Music).

From the producers and creative team that sold out the RSC’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre with Red Sky at Sunrise: Laurie Lee in Words & Music.

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Running Time	2 hours including interval
Age Recommendation	10 and above