Lawrence of Arabia
"The Warrior and The Poet"
A One-man dramatisation of the Last Years of
Lawrence of Arabia
"The Warrior and The Poet" is a highly atmospheric one-man dramatisation of the last years of "Lawrence of Arabia". The years of action and adventure in the Middle East during the First World War are now over and so, with evocative original music and authentic sounds, the real man behind the popular image presents himself and takes you through his later challenges and achievements, right from his arrival at Bovington Camp in Dorset in 1923, until his untimely death almost at the same location in 1935.
Prepare yourself to visit such exotic locations as a fort at the edge of Afghanistan, as well as events such as the Schneider Trophy Race and a near-farcical press-dodging dash from Plymouth to London!
Despite occasionally revealing his most bleak and vulnerable side, Lawrence's sense of fun and humour constantly bubbles through, and he takes full advantage of a live audience for a few digs at the popular press, a bit of banter AND, he might just ask you to wave a banner, help him fix a motor-boat or even finish writing a book!
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Reviews (most recent first):
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Raymond Sargent is mesmerising as the charismatic Lawrence while also playing - with great conviction - every other character from a fellow soldier to Thomas Hardy. With minimal props and sound effects, Raymond called upon pure talent to inform and entertain with a stunning portrayal of the enigma that was Lawrence of Arabia.
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The Wimborne Magazine
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Excellent music and additional recordings added to the atmosphere which induced goosebumps at the end, with Lawrence's death in 1935. Sargent held an almost empty stage for almost two hours, deftly showing a different side to Lawrence; 'a man of letters, and not a man of action'.
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The Wyvern (Magazine of the University of Essex, Colchester)
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Dorset-based actor Ray Sargent pulls off a brilliant coup in this one-man dramatised performance. With atmospheric lighting, music and a few props, the actor brings to life not only T. E. Lawrence himself, but other notables of the day such as Thomas Hardy, E. M. Forster and Bernard Shaw - not to mention a host of other characters who crowd the stage in the person of one man modestly dressed in shirtsleeves. Immaculately researched and riveting in its dramatic tension, this performance brings to life the complex nature of Lawrence; a man whose early and action packed career brought him international fame but whose later life, in the hands of Ray Sargent, is every bit as exciting and eventful.
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The Dorset Echo
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Raymond Sargent's dramatisation of the last years of Lawrence of Arabia provides a stunning insight of a legend: his energetic performance leaves you enriched.
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The Eastern Daily Press
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Raymond Sargent is someone it's very hard not to admire. As well as single-handedly performing this 100-minute tale of the last years of Lawrence of Arabia, he also wrote it. A regular and welcome visitor to the Customs House, Sargent keeps the punter's attention glued to the stage. His excellent acting, accents, moves, mannerisms and intonations means he is able to make you believe you are actually ear-wigging conversations between numerous people. His stage presence is absolutely brilliant and his tremendous performance fully deserved the animated response from the enthusiastic audience.
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The Shields Gazette (Tyne & Wear)
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There are many parts for Sargent to play including Lawrence's friends; Thomas Hardy and E.M. Forster, as well as Lowell Thomas, the American journalist who made him famous. With the current situation in the Middle East, interest in Lawrence is on the up and this show offers something for anyone who wants to know more.
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The Stroud News & Journal
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Few words could better describe Raymond Sargent than 'human dynamo'. The Dorset actor and dramatist took his audience on a whirlwind tour of India, London, Dorset, Hampshire and many other locations, to chart the later life of "Lawrence of Arabia". Events were woven seamlessly together: among the most poignant are his letter to Thomas Hardy telling him what it is like to fly, his selling of his dagger to pay for repairs at his cottage, Clouds Hill, his learning of Hardy's death whilst listening to the music of Beethoven and his hearing of a bird tapping on his window pane being interpreted as a portent of death. Sargent employs a vast range of voices, facial expressions and body language to portray the myriad characters, music and sound effects to convey atmosphere and a conversational style to draw in his audience. His research has been meticulous: this is a great work and Sargent's remarkable stage presence deserves to be enjoyed in a variety of venues.
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The Salisbury Journal
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Next Performance
To see reviews on Ray's other one-man show, "Two Victorian Tales", click here.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following for their kind contributions towards the production of "The Warrior and The Poet":
Norrie Woodhall of The New Hardy Players, for bringing the period of this story to life by sharing with me the memories of her encounters with T.E. Lawrence, to whom she was introduced by Thomas Hardy in 1924.
Forest Paget and Solomon Associates, Damerham, Hants: for generous provision of rehearsal space.
Eddie and Sallianne Colton: for sourcing and making the props.
Steve Limburn: for the loan of the R.A.F. cap and the typewriter.
Members of Wimborne Drama, Wimborne, Dorset: for provision of all the background character voices.
Jim Price and PVA Medialab, Bridport, Dorset: for engineering and software support in creating the original music.
Liz Radford and Notepad Music Productions, Bournemouth: for composing the "silent movie" and "newsreel" music.
Gavin Courtie and Notepad Music Productions, Bournemouth: for sourcing the sound effects, and for engineering the sound plot.
Members of the Brough Superior Club, for provision of the motorcycle for photographs, and for an exciting Spring evening recording the motorcycle sounds!
