The Friends Present..... An Evening with Joanna David, Nickolas Grace & David Robb

Join the Friends of Senate House Library to explore the impact of the Reformation on English literature through an exploration of specially selected poetry from the era at Senate House.

You will be guided through the evening by Professor Tom Healy of the University of Sussex, who will be joined by actors Joanna David, Nickolas Grace and David Robb in a performance of verses from a wide range of poets and authors of the period.

The event will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a drinks reception with Professor Healy and the performers.

About Joanna David

Joanna David is an acclaimed actress well known for her television, radio, theatre and film work. She has appeared in many popular series including Sense and Sensibility, War and Peace, The Last of the Mohicans, Inspector Morse and Midsomer Murders.

About Nickolas Grace

NICKOLAS GRACE was born in West Kirby and studied at Royal Central. He was a member of the RSC from 1972-78, and played Hamlet for the opening of Derby Playhouse. West End includes: Mozart in AMADEUS (Her Majesty's); title rôle in RICHARD 11 (Young Vic); Voltaire in CANDIDE (Olivier nomination, Old Vic); CHARIOTS OF FIRE (Gielgud); SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Paris Châtelet). TV & Film includes: Blanche in BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (BAFTA Nomination); Harry in HEAT & DUST; Sheriff of Nottingham in ROBIN OF SHERWOOD (ACE Nomination); Boozer-Pitt in HOUSE OF CARDS; Oscar Wilde in SALOMÉ'S LAST DANCE; EVITA; INTERLUDE IN PRAGUE. He is a Fellow of Royal Central School & a Companion of LIPA.

About David Robb

David was born in Edinburgh and lives in London. His theatre credits are extensive and include PRIVATE LIVES and ARMSTRONG’S LAST GOODNIGHT at The Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, and TAMING OF THE SHREW and THE BEGGAR’S OPERA at Chichester Festival Theatre. He recently he played Claudius in HAMLET on tour and in the West End for English Touring Theatre, and ‘Lord Grey’ in the UK tour of THE HAUNTING, player Sir Anthony Eden in THE AUDIENCE at the Apollo theatre and Blunt and Taylor in the national tour of SINGLE SPIES. David recently played Thomas Boleyn in the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s acclaimed novel WOLF HALL, and he is perhaps best known for his role as Dr Clarkson in DOWNTON ABBEY. Next to be seen in the BBC’s drama documentary AGAINST THE LAW. His film credits include ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE and YOUNG VICTORIA.

About Professor Tom Healy

Professor Tom Healy is Professor of Renaissance Studies at the University of Sussex. He has published and taught widely on sixteenth and seventeenth-century literature, with books and articles that have frequently explored the impact of contemporary religious imaginations on writing and the wider and the social and political consequences of the 'long Reformation' from 1500-1700. He has appeared frequently on the BBC Radio 4 programme, 'In Our Time', and as a guest lecturer at Shakespeare's Globe.

Professor Healy's selection of Reformation poetry for the evening illustrates the uneasy and the comforted self found in lyric, the sense of God's English in epic and ode, the provision of new spaces and voices for women in verse, England as a new holy land in pastoral and georgic, spiritual amorous rapture in sonnets and the testing of belief in elegy.

As well as more familiar poets including Sir Thomas Wyatt, John Donne, Mary Sidney, George Herbert, Henry Vaughan and John Milton, we will also hear from some less familiar ones such as Isabella Whitney, Aemilia Lanyer, Henry King, Faithful Teate.

Ticket prices

Ticket prices are per person and include complimentary refreshment at a drinks reception following the event.

Full Price Ticket: £20

Friends of Senate House Library and concessions: £10
(concession tickets include University of London staff, unwaged and over 60’s)

Event details

  • 27 June 2017 19:00
  • Professor Tom Healy, Joanna David, Nickolas Grace and David Robb.
  • Beveridge Hall
  • Senate House Library Event