A piano once played by Noël Coward is taking centre stage in a new theatre production.
The Blüthner baby grand piano appears in the second half of Reading Rep Theatre’s current production of Private Lives, running until May 9.
The piano holds a storied past, having belonged to famed theatre producer Binkie Beaumont.
It was later owned by composer Ted Dicks, who won an Ivor Novello Award for A Windmill in Old Amsterdam, and was played by both Coward and Ivor Novello. The piano is now on loan to the theatre from Dicks’ family,
Adam Dix said: "The baby grand was a cherished instrument of my fathers, Ted Dicks, and used continually throughout his professional career for compositions written for theatre, television and film.
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"My father took ownership of the piano sometime in the late 1960s, early 1970s, having previously been owned by theatre producer Binkie Beaumont.
"Many musicians, lyricists, actors of the time would visit and the historical providence of Binkie Beaumont, Noël Coward and Ivor Novello is the story I remember.
"You could always hear the piano as you approached the house and days before my father died, he was putting final arrangements to the score of a musical he had written called 'Strip'.
"It is wonderful to put the piano and its previous custodians in the limelight once again."
Ted Dicks was a celebrated writer and composer for stage and screen.
He earned an Ivor Novello Award for A Windmill in Old Amsterdam, written with lyricist Myles Rudge.
Dicks and Rudge also wrote Bernard Cribbins’ hits The Hole in the Ground and Right Said Fred.
Coward himself selected The Hole in the Ground as one of his eight Desert Island Discs.
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Matthew Forbes, director of Private Lives, said: "Noël Coward, renowned for his extraordinary talents in writing, directing, composing and acting, was often simply called 'the Master' by his peers.
"I’m thrilled that this production brings together so many facets of his genius; his musical composition, his razor-sharp dialogue, and the timeless song 'Someday I’ll Find You,' all woven into one experience.
"Having such a tangible connection to him, the piano once played by 'the Master' in our production, feels more than a tribute; it’s an opportunity to tap into his legacy and feel closer to his artistry.
"Hopefully, we can even channel a fraction of the brilliance that made his work so enduring."
The cast includes Olivier Award nominee Amy Di Bartolomeo (The Devil Wears Prada) as Amanda, Christopher Bonwell (The Mousetrap) as Elyot, Emile John (Emmerdale) as Victor, Rose-anna Nicholson as Louise, and Orla O’Sullivan (It’s A Wonderful Life) as Sybil.
Private Lives runs at Reading Rep Theatre until May 9.
Tickets are available at readingrep.com.
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