The Year Without A Summer

Characters: Byron, Polidori, Susan, Annabella & Ensemble

Timeline: Spring 1816, following the eruption of Mount Tambora

Plot:  The show opens with a brief portrayal of recent events; the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia and the widespread devastation that followed. 

      A young man, Polidori, then welcomes the audience with a quick Beethoven tune on the grand piano in a London theatre lobby. Theatre-goers & lobby-loungers pour into the lobby following his performance, whilst Byron flirts with Susan Boyce, an actress who has just performed at the theatre. They dance together, ending with a kiss. Gate-crashing the party, Annabella (Byron's wife) discovers their liaison. The ensemble watch as the chaos unfolds and Annabella confronts Byron.

Setting: The lobby of a well-known London theatre 

Music: 'The Lobby Loungers' (Opening) is an original song by Rhiannon Drake, using contemporary loops and selections from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.28, Movements 1 and 4.

track one

THE LOBBY LOUNGERS

(OPENING)

Characters: Madame Durrell, Byron, Polidori & Ensemble 

Plot: Byron & Polidori begin their journey to Geneva, starting in England and travelling through France and Germany. In London, Madame Durrell washes her clothes in the street whilst singing a hopeful tune (Schubert's 'Goldner Schein'), eventually joined by other local women. Whilst many try to stay positive, others are not so happy with their situation, rioting and demonstrating in the streets... In France, Byron & Polidori are able to have a little fun before things there also turn violent. Finally, they reach their friends in Geneva.

Setting: Outside Byron's home, Soho 

Music: 'Goldner Schein' is a piece of Schubert lieder, written in May 1816. It is used and adapted at several points throughout the show, mixed with contemporary loops and other themes. Translations (from German) by Rhiannon Drake.

track two

Timeline: The morning after the night before

GOLDNER SCHEIN

Characters: Polidori & Harriet 

Timeline: June 1816, Polidori & Byron have nearly reached Villa Diodati

Plot: Polidori reflects on his journey to Geneva with Byron, ad-libbing around the main motif from Schubert's 'Goldner Schein'. Back in London, Harriet sings her children to sleep, introducing 'Harriet's Theme', which reoccurs throughout the show.

 

Setting: Harriet's home in London & Lake Geneva

Music: 'Goldner Schein' is a piece of Schubert lieder, written in May 1816. It is used and adapted at several points throughout the show, mixed with contemporary loops and other themes. Translations (from German) by Rhiannon Drake.

track three

GOLDNER SCHEIN REPRISE

Characters: Byron, Percy & Mary Shelley, Polidori & Claire

Timeline: The first day at the Villa Diodati, Geneva

Plot: Following their arrival in Geneva, Byron, Polidori and 'the gang' look forward to the summer ahead. Full of excitement and happiness, they sing about their new home... the Villa Diodati!

Setting: The Villa Diodati

Music: 'Villa Diodati' is an original song by Rhiannon Drake, using contemporary loops. With an up-beat funk/pop sound, the characters are free to ad-lib around the main melody, whilst much of the instrumentation is performed live on stage by the actors.

track four

VILLA DIODATI

Characters: Susan, Annabella & Harriet

Timeline: June 1816, evening

Plot:  Reflecting on their lost loves, the three women contemplate their feelings during and after their failed relationships. Susan reflects on her brief affair with Annabella's husband, Byron, who has run off to Geneva, whilst Harriet and Annabella consider the damage their husbands have caused them. All three women conclude that, whilst they thought they needed their 'men' to help them feel strong, they are now even stronger on their own.
 

Setting: Back in London, split across the three women's homes

track five

Music: 'Loving You' is an original song by Rhiannon Drake; a female trio with a contemporary musical theatre/pop sound.

LOVING YOU

Characters: Byron, Claire & Ensemble

Timeline: June 1816, evening

Plot:  Soon after arriving in Geneva, Byron tries to seduce Claire Clairmont by showing-off about his romantic prowess in London. At first she is hesitant but, with some persuasion, Byron succeeds. This track is influenced by Lady Caroline Lamb's statement that Byron was 'Mad, bad and dangerous to know'. 

Setting: The Villa Diodati

track six

Music: 'Mad & Bad & Dangerous To Know' is an original song by Rhiannon Drake, using contemporary loops and melodic motifs from Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 28 in A major Op 101 mvt 3. 

MAD & BAD & DANGEROUS TO KNOW

Characters: J.M.W. Turner, Susan, Harriet & Ensemble

Timeline: June 1816, Sunset

Plot:  The famous painter J.M.W. Turner sets to work creating his depiction of one of the glorious sunsets typical of 1816. (These were the result of the dust & particles present in the atmosphere as a result of the volcanic eruption.) Wealthy Londoners celebrate the beautiful views, seemingly oblivious of those who are suffering most as a result of the increasing famine. 

Setting: A bridge on the River Thames

track seven

Music: Original lyrics by Rhiannon Drake, set to the Allegro from Schubert's Symphony No.5, layered over contemporary beats.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

Characters: Percy, Mary, Claire & Ensemble

Timeline: June 1816

Plot:  After an evening of heavy drinking & opium-taking, Percy Shelley performs his much-loved poem, 'Hymn To Intellectual Beauty', to his friends and colleagues. Featured mid-way through the first act, the song represents the first time 'the gang' celebrate their lives together as hedonistic writers and poets.

Setting: The Villa Diodati

track eight

Music: 'Hymn To Intellectual Beauty' is an original song by Rhiannon Drake, using contemporary loops and lyrics taken from Percy Shelley's poem of the same title. An up-beat number, the music begins with a rock sound, transforming into a dance track as the night wares on. By the end of the song, Shelley is left 'slamming' his poem over the beat, wildly entertaining his friends.

HYMN TO INTELLECTUAL BEAUTY

Characters: Ensemble Women & Harriet 

Timeline: June 1816

Plot: Taken ill, Susan discovers she is pregnant. Harriet takes her in, caring for her until her death. Harriet sings Susan to sleep...

Setting: London, at Harriet's home

track nine

Poetry excerpts: Hymn To Intellectual Beauty (Shelley, 1816)

HYMN TO INTELLECTUAL BEAUTY

REPRISE

Characters: Byron, Percy, Polidori, Mary & Claire

Timeline: June 1816

Plot:  Following a typical evening of entertainment & drinking at the Villa Diodati, 'the gang' dare each other to write the best ghost stories they are capable of, inspiring some of the greatest works of literature ever written...

Setting: The Villa Diodati, evening

track ten

Music: 'Ghost Story' features original lyrics by Rhiannon Drake, set to music from Beethoven's Sonata No.27 in E minor Op.90.

A GHOST STORY

Characters: Mary & Ensemble 

Timeline: June 1816

Plot: 'Waking Dream' features towards the end of the first act. Waking up from a terrifying dream (represented by the 'nightmare' music at the start of the track, featuring Beethoven's Sonata No.27 in E minor Op.90), Mary is haunted by the image of a man she's seen in her dream. Encouraged by the people in her nightmare, she notes down her visions, which will eventually form the basis of her most famous work, 'Frankenstein'.

Setting: Mary's bedroom, the Villa Diodati

track eleven

Music: 'Waking Dream' is an original song by Rhiannon Drake, using contemporary loops, as well as motifs from Beethoven's Sonata No.27 in E minor Op.90.

WAKING DREAM

Characters: Ensemble

Timeline: June 1816

Plot: The ensemble sing about the disturbing phenomenon of 'Snow In June';  all parts of society deal with the ongoing effects of the volcanic eruption.

Music: Original lyrics by Rhiannon Drake, set to samples from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.28, Movement 1.

Setting: London town

track twelve

SNOW IN JUNE

Characters: Madame Durrell, Harriet & Ensemble 

Timeline: July 1816

Plot: Having been abandoned by Polidori before he left for Geneva, Madame Durrell is determined to move on and empower herself. Harriet, on the other hand, is struggling to forget Percy, having not heard from him in months. Looking after his children alone is taking its toll.

Setting: Outside Madame Durrell's brothel on a summer's night in London 

track thirteen

YOUNG, BRILLIANT & HANDSOME

Characters: Byron & Ensemble 

Timeline: August 1816

Plot: Struggling to cope with 'the pall of darkness' that has taken over his world, Byron tells the story of the last man on earth in his poem 'Darkness'. Written in Geneva during the summer of 1816, this poem was thought to represent Byron's mental state at the time. It features in the second act, as Byron tries to understand the mistakes he has made and what the future holds for him. 

Setting: Byron's room, Villa Diodati

track fourteen

Music: 'Darkness' is an original song by Rhiannon Drake, using contemporary loops and lyrics taken from Byron's poem 'Darkness', written in 1816. The role of Byron has a rockier/rougher sound than many of the more traditional musical theatre roles in the piece, representing his unique character. There is also a rap element to this number, with Byron 'poetry slamming' over the beat at points.

Poetry excerpts: Darkness (Byron, 1816)

DARKNESS

Characters: Harriet

Timeline: September 1816

Plot: 'In It For The Chase' is a female torch song, featured in the second act and performed by Harriet Shelley (Percy's estranged wife). Harriet feels abandoned and alone, caring for their children in London, whilst Percy enjoys his new life with Mary in Geneva. After months apart, Harriet finally hears from Percy... asking for funds to support his new lifestyle. Full of both anger and love for Percy, she confronts the conflict inside her.

Setting:  On a bridge in London

track fifteen

Music: 'In It For The Chase' is an original song by Rhiannon Drake. One of the few solo numbers in the show, it is a contemporary take on the traditional musical theatre 'torch song'.

IN IT FOR THE CHASE

Characters: Byron, Percy, Mary, Polidori & Claire 

Timeline: October 1816

Plot: Having come to the end of their long summer together, 'the gang' part mid-way through the second act. Percy & Mary decide they will return to London with Polidori & Claire, who is now pregnant with Byron's child. Byron refuses to return with them, choosing to move to France to pursue his writing.

Setting: Villa Diodati

track sixteen

Music: 'So We'll Go No More A Roving' is a poem written by Lord Byron in early 1817. Here it is set to an original melody by Rhiannon Drake, over the top of contemporary loops.

SO WE'LL GO NO MORE A ROVING

Characters: Byron, Percy, Mary, Polidori, Claire & Ensemble

Timeline: Christmas, 1816

Plot: The show begins to conclude with a musical setting of Byron's poem 'Fare Thee Well', during which several events occur in a London church. First a funeral, then a wedding and finally a christening... By the end of the song 'the gang' have truly parted and are coming to terms with their new futures.

Setting: London & France

track seventeen

Music: 'Fare Thee Well' is an 1816 poem written by Lord Byron. It is set to an original tune by Rhiannon Drake, accompanied by contemporary loops.

FARE THEE WELL