Captain Corelli comes to town (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Captain Corelli comes to town

AN ADAPTATION of the award-winning Louis de Bernieres novel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, is coming to the Everyman Theatre from February 27 to March 1, with a cast of three talented performers and a variety of weird and wonderful props.

These include two chickens, two aubergines, three puppets, a tuba, a motorbike, some old photographs, a walking stick and a goat.

The classic novel has been hailed as a modern masterpiece.

Set on the Greek island of Cephalonia, from the Second World War to the present day, it tells the story of Dr Iannis, his daughter Pelagia, the heroic Italian soldier Carlo Guercio, Captain Antonio Corelli, and the love they share.

Adapted by and starring Mike Maran, the novel comes alive on stage with the help of Alison Stephens on mandolin and Anne Evans on piano and flute.

Alison Stephens is Professor of Mandolin at Trinity College, London, and recently played the mandolin for the film version of the book, which starred Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz.

She is considered to be the finest mandolin player in the UK and has also released an album of music from the novels of Louis de Bernieres, which was very successful in the classical music charts.

Mike Maran is a former rock musician, having supported such bands as the Electric Light Orchestra, Wizzard and Steeleye Span, and has recorded three albums.

He is the founder of Mike Maran Productions, and has a long list of productions and adaptations to his name.

Anne Evans studied flute in Edinburgh, Vienna and London, and has performed all over Europe and the Far East.