Bayeux

LvanB is a new piece of music theatre that tells the story of one of the greatest composers who ever lived, through his music, diaries and the eyes of his contemporaries, as a young man up to near the end of his life and the Ode to Joy.

Scriptwriter and lyricist

Beethoven was a very complex character: neurotic, unstable, moody introspective,  depressive, gregarious, sometimes self–pitying, aggressive, over–sensitive, restless, undisciplined, humorous, devious, intolerant and sometimes hypocritical - the less endearing qualities becoming more and more to the fore as his deafness, in particular, worsened, and his multitude of other ailments came and went or lingered and prospered.

The story is set between the late 1700s and 1827, largely in Vienna (with a little in Bonn), and features a number of actual or fictional episodes in his life. 

Essentially, his story is about becoming a decent person.

LvanB is clearly a work of fiction, though we’ve tried to make it as historically  accurate where possible and appropriate. Much is known about the man himself, from his diaries, notebooks, and conversation books - as well as what we might infer from his music - and from the letters, diaries, and writings of his contemporaries (the latter sometimes also approaching fiction!). The musical side takes some of Beethoven's melodies and builds contemporary pieces more suited to today's audiences.

Two historical characters feature prominently: Stephan von Breuning (a lifelong friend from Bonn, Louis’ birthplace), and Countess Josephine von Brunsvick.

The Princes, Counts and Countesses, are loosely based on historical aristocrats, whilst most of the other characters are made up.

Development team

Ian Burns, Derek Rowe, Elissa Reeve, Nadia Sirninger Rankin, Charles Kovess, Ashley Taylor Tickell

 Ranga Plays Australia will be set in India and Australia. 

A young Indian lad has a dream to play cricket against Australia. As he gains the courage to share the dream with others – his guru and his teacher and classmates, amongst others – he finds that everybody thinks that this is a very good idea indeed. Not that this is surprising, really, because all these people, like himself, are Indians!

There’s not quite the same unanimity in Australia where, it must be said with regret, there is some confusion about what an “Indian” is. No matter, there is certainly enthusiasm, with considerable creative effort being constructed for when the Indians – of whatever kind – arrive.

Back in India, Ranga discovers that there are many unthought-of issues involved in bringing his dream to reality. In fact the issues are almost too many to keep track of, which is why we have grown-ups.

Fortunately for him, numerous locals and others are drawn in to the dream, and, somehow, get him to Australia, with a talented team – where they have several highly-educational, albeit somewhat incomprehensible, experiences before taking the field for The Match.

The story opens in an Indian village school, where the young teacher introduces the class to a strange word apparently often used by Australians: “Goodonyamate”. This stimulates Ranga’s idea, which leads to meetings with the village headman and other important elders and the President of the Bangalore Club, and, after an elephant-led parade to the station, eventually to Bombay, the Brabourne Stadium, and the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Their Australian experiences include an eccentric musical welcome at the outback railway station, a Welcome Concert virtually destroyed by a horde of mice, riding an enormous horse, a collection run with the local undertaker, a triple burial ceremony where more than the designated threesome become interred, and, of course, The Match.

This event, however, is quite fraught for the Indians, with a set of rules almost certainly peculiar to the town where The Match is played.

However, being gentlemen to the man, apart from the girls involved, they play the game.

The movie culminates in an enormous production number at the MCG.

Development team

Ian Burns, Elissa Reeve, Charles Kovess

Ranga. A lad of around 12-13 years old. He’s a sensible person, a bit of a dreamer and thinker, especially about cricket.

Kumar. Ranga’s English, Geography, and History teacher, a handsome young man recently graduated from teachers’ college.

Subhashini - a girl from Delhi.

Harkishen Singh. An ex-Punjabi Sardar, friend of Ranga and full of wisdom which is of a kind that makes sense when grown up, if at all.

Rao Ranga’s father, a Brahmin and major landholder.  

Nanjundappa. The village headman, potentially wealthier than he is at present, if he plays his cards right.

Bhaktavatsala a respected Bangalore businessman.

Brigadier Hill, President of the Bangalore Club; retired British Army.

Bandyopadhyay,  a respected business man; friend of Brigadier Hill.

Neville de Mello, a leading light of All India Radio; a major cricket figure.

Sahaj, a young cricketer; becomes Ranga’s friend.

Mr Braden, Head Teacher of Niamong State School.

Miss Hendley, a lovely young teacher at Niamong State School.

Mrs Phelpps, an expansive teacher at Niamong State School.

Mr Olney, an Inspector of Schools.

Mr Cross, Niamong’s wealthiest person; President of the Shire Council; undertaker.

Gravyhead, a war veteran.

Scratcher, trouble.

Lissie Pendle, Dr Pendle’s daughter.

Jemmy, a farm boy.

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Development team

Ian Burns, Paul Franklin, Sigmund Taubert, Michael Kelly, Charles Kovess

Video Produced by Etainment Productions, filmed at Alek Theatre

Design by Sophie Sirninger Rankin

Questing Cubes by Bruce Rankin