Louise Jordan - Florence
A preview of the one woman show
Louise Jordan is an artist with a reputation for doing shows, rather than gigs. Mixing songs and historical narrative in presentations that are at home as much in school sports halls, village hall and theatres. Art and history combined to make great entertainment that also educates.
The end of 2019, early 2020 had Louise just starting to get out with Florence, the show based on Louise's album of the same name and paying tribute to one of the UK's greatest administrators as well as being the inventor of the infographic and the pie chart, Florence Nightingale.
There is a supreme irony that they events that prevented "Florence" from being toured last year are exactly the same circumstances that have made this show more relevant than ever. It was always looking at the ongoing impact of Nightingale, predominantly through her administration legacy rather than her nursing one. In fairness, Nightingale herself, pushed against being placed on a nursing pedestal.
As the post covid world opens up, Louise Jordan, is in the process of spinning up "Florence" again, generously helped by rehearsal space at Poole Lighthouse's Sherling Studio, a venue she'll be returning to with the show in October.
I was lucky enough to be invited along to see a full run through of the show, prior to it getting properly out and about. As expected, it is a show full of character, one that explores the legacy as much as the person, so consequently most of the show is performed in modern nursing garb, rather than Victorian dresses. That said, there is a companion work, "Pedestal", which is designed to be performed outside and shorter, that does see Louise fully costumed as Florence herself.
There is everything you would expect from a one person show in "Florence" and a few things you might not, a star-spangled quiz show over two rounds, that is just begging for audience participation, for example.
Louise performs with, guitar and keyboard as well as unaccompanied, in and out of character(s) as well as weaving context into the show. Coincidently I've been looking at the Crimean War recently and it's shocking to realise that 80% of the deaths in that war were down to poor planning and a government refusing to accept that. Then, as now health care workers and their role was used to distract from the failings. Jordan's own song "Statistics Save Lives", roughly translated to the answer's in the data sits at the core. 2,755 of the British Empire's force were killed in action compared to the 17,580 who died of disease.
"Florence" is a great show, please do check out Louise's website for performances across the Summer & Autumn and beyond, whilst the jury may be mixed on Nightingale's contribution to nursing, it isn't on her massive benefit to healthcare, a benefit still being felt today. Having been fortunate enough to see this coming to life, I whole heartedly commit it to you, as a good night out.
Neil King
Florence is supported by Arts Council England & Wiltshire Creative
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/
Florie's Lorry
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.