We’re excited to be collaborating with medieval ensemble The Telling to show Clare Norburn’s new play with music Love in the Lockdown, streaming in 9 short episodes between 4 March and 23 May 2021.
Love in the Lockdown follows medieval musician Emilia (played by Rachael Stirling) and playwright Giovanni (Alex Newman) in the early stages of an intense relationship, which starts with awkward early Zoom dates just before lockdown. Each short episode will be streamed in real time on the anniversary of some of the key points in Lockdown 1.0.
Over 3 months, the separated lovers get closer. They also work on a project together, inspired by The Decameron by Boccaccio, a “14th Century box set” of 100 stories told by young people to while away their quarantine during the Black Death in Florence in 1348. Giovanni reimagines this work, drawing out parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, while Emilia and her ensemble (played by The Telling), plan the music.
However, their relationship ultimately gets tested and the challenges they face lead them on a soul-searching journey to discover their artistic truth.
The drama is written by playwright, soprano and former BREMF Co-artistic Director Clare Norburn, and directed by Nicholas Renton.
Rachael Stirling comments: “Clare’s beautiful piece dramatises a lockdown experience of a live musician with the generous, funny and painful insight of her first-hand experience. She has written a drama for every creative who was told to retrain.”
Each episode will be released on the BREMF and The Telling Facebook and YouTube channels in real time, a year on from the point in 2020. All episodes will remain online until the end of May 2021 and the series can also be viewed in its entirety from 23 – 31 May.
Click here to find out more, and to make a donation to The Telling in support of this project.
Episode 1: Thursday 4 March 2021, 2pm
Episode 2: Friday 5 March 2021, 6pm
Episode 3: Tuesday 23 March 2021, 8pm
Episode 4: Wednesday 24 March 2021, 5.15pm
Episode 5: Thursday 15 April 2021, 5pm
Episode 6: Wednesday 5 May 2021, 10am
Episode 7: Thursday 13 May 2021, 6pm
Episode 8: Saturday 15 May 2021, 11am
Episode 9: Sunday 23 May 2021, 7pm