On Friday 25 October at 7.30 pm, Sir John Betjeman’s Banana Blush comes to St Edmundsbury Cathedral for a very special performance.

Sir John Betjeman was a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Elizabeth the Queen mother, acting as Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. Two years later, he would produce the album Banana Blush, a series of 12 poems read to glorious music composed by Jim Parker. The result was an extraordinary creation that reached an audience beyond his usual readers, and is today considered a cult classic treasured by musicians like Jarvis Cocker and ‘Suggs’ from Madness.

Sir John worked with Jim to create music as evocative and witty as the poetry. From Palm Court ensemble, through classical strings and woodwind, to Jazz and Blues, Jim Parker’s music transports listeners into a time between the two World Wars and mid-twentieth century.

In this very special performance in its Golden Anniversary year, broadcaster and writer Zeb Soanes will bring Betjeman’s much-loved verse to life alongside the dazzling virtuosity of the Chris Warner Ensemble. Zeb’s enchanting voice delights listeners of Classic FM week by week on evening radio and is perfect to capture the multicoloured characters and moods of Betjeman’s poems. Set to the delightful toe-tapping score by Jim Parker, four times winner of the BAFTA for Best Original Television Music, this event is not to be missed! Parker’s music will be instantly familiar from countless memorable TV series: House of Cards, Foyles War, The House of Elliot, Mapp and Lucia and Midsomer Murders.

Betjeman often explored themes of Englishness and English culture, particularly its architectural heritage, suburban life, and the changing social landscape. He crossed between classes in a free-spirited way which was unusual for his time. With his clear diction and keen eye for detail, Betjeman is an accessible and engaging poet. His work is infused with humour and gentle irony, often poking fun at social conventions and the pretensions of the upper classes. Characters such as Clemency, the General’s daughter, and Joan Hunter-Donne demonstrate his keen interest in women!

Much of his poetry evokes a sense of nostalgia for a bygone, pre-war England, capturing the beauty of everyday life while acknowledging its fleeting nature. He had a unique ability to eulogize suburban life, conjuring images of ‘Businesswomen’ soaking in the bath and a ‘Death in Leamington’. A childhood in the 1920s is invoked by his poems ‘Indoor games near Newbury’ and ‘Myvanwy’. Through the characters of ‘Lillian and Alice’, Betjeman expresses nostalgia and appreciation for the mundane and often stifling aspects of daily life. By contrast, his poem ‘Longfellow’s visit to Venice’ observes Edwardian society’s enthusiasm for Venice and Victorian poets, and is exquisitely accompanied by music that lands us in a gondola.

Today, the poet is immortalized in Bronze holding on to his hat in St Pancras station – a building of such Victorian grandeur that it could have been built just for him! A unique blend of wit and charm, with a deep appreciation for the English landscape and its history, Betjeman’s work remains beloved by countless readers.

Sir John’s easy grace with the spoken word and Mr Parker’s illuminating accompaniment make you want to rush out to buy a straw boater and suitably loud blazer or sip a glass of fizz grasping a very large cigarette holder. Transport yourself from the stress and strain of modern life to an altogether more graceful twentieth century with this rare opportunity of musical immersion. Banana Blush is nostalgic and poignant, but also ironic and honest, not avoiding the complex and painful realities of life and death.

It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. Don’t miss it!

Tickets are on sale now. Click here for more information.