In the week I write this, Roger Allam has just won “Best Actor” at the Olivier Awards for his Falstaff in the Globe’s production of Shakespeare’s “Henry IV”. In the year 2000 Roger won the “Best Supporting Actor “ Olivier for playing Henry Graves in the National Theatre’s production of Edward Bulwer Lytton’s 1840 play “Money” – and I am thrilled to hear that next week he will be coming to Knebworth House to reprise his role in a BBC Radio production of the same play. It is very enterprising of the BBC to seek to summon up the spirit of the author by recording in Bulwer Lytton’s home rather than in a recording studio – I very much look forward to the broadcast later in the year.
Meanwhile, there is much going on in the House in April. We are adding an extra open day on the Public Holiday of Friday 29th April – and to celebrate the Royal Wedding, Stevenage Floral Arts Society will be filling the House with flowers. It is also the weekend of our Hertfordshire Garden Show, so the evidence should be all around us that Spring has indubitably Sprung!
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com