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Broadcaster and entertainer Nicholas Parsons presents a portrait of the nonsensical genius Edward Lear and conveys a rounded picture of the man’s amazing life and unusual personality.  He illustrates Lear’s remarkable fantasy world though skillful and sympathetic delivery of his highly imaginative and delightful nonsense verse.

This event is based on Parsons’ one man show on Lear, who is best remembered for his nonsense verse including The Owl and the Pussycat, The Jumblies and The Pobble and The Dong with a Luminous Nose. Parsons will give a picture of Lear’s life, background, family and work and deliver poems to illustrate how they arose naturally out of the fantasy world he created to survive the difficulties of his personal life.

Parsons has worked in every branch of show business including serious acting, comedy performance, stand-up and cabaret. He first made his name in 1960s television in partnership with fellow comedian Arthur Haynes. Parsons is best known as the host for 48 years of BBC radio 4’s Just a Minute, and as presenter of television’s Sale of the Century, which ran for 14 years. He starred in the West End of London in a number of plays and musicals.
He can be seen at another festival event on the history of Just a Minute.