Billie Holiday fans are in for a treat on 11 and 12th September when Dukes favourite Katrina Beckford brings God Bless the Child: An Evening with Billy Holiday to the venue.
Direct from a successful run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival, God Bless the Child takes a glimpse into the life of one of the most extraordinary and enigmatic singers in music history.
For two nights only, The Round auditorium will transform into a buzzing jazz joint as Billie Holiday takes you on a remarkable journey from a misspent youth in Baltimore to the lavish clubs of 1930s Harlem.
This moving insight into a true musical icon commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of her death and includes classic songs such as Fine and Mellow, Strange Fruit and Lover Man.
Live jazz will also be playing in the Dukes Bar before the performances.
A weekend of jazz films has also been programmed to complement the show. Orson Welles’ classic 1958 film noir Touch of Evil has a masterpiece jazz score and will be showing on 10th September. Jazz on a Summer’s Day, a documentary capturing a host of jazz giants who played the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, will show on 11 and 12th September alongside Tis Autumn, a documentary offering a poignant look at the great but unheralded singer Jackie Paris.
• Tickets for God Bless the Child cost £11 and £9 for concessions and can be booked on 01524 598500 or www.dukes-lancaster.org. A number of young people’s free theatre tickets are available for this production. Film tickets cost £5 and £4 concessions.