Kit Hesketh-Harvey
Encyclopedia
Christopher John "Kit" Hesketh Harvey (born 30 April 1957) is a British musical comic performer, translator, composer and scriptwriter.
Born in Nyasaland (now Malawi
), he was educated as senior chorister at Canterbury Cathedral
and then Tonbridge School
in Kent before moving on as a choral scholar under John Rutter
to Clare College, Cambridge
, later becoming a member of the Cambridge Footlights.
He wrote the script for Merchant Ivory's Maurice
(1987), and has worked on the Vicar of Dibley series for the BBC
. He wrote Full Throttle, starring Rowan Atkinson, and Hans Andersen: My Life As A Fairytale (Hallmark).
He is the writer and singer of the musical comedy act Kit and The Widow
, which has had a number of West End and Broadway theatre runs and tours internationally. They have had their own series on BBC Radios 3 and 4, and two TV specials on Channel 4. They have toured internationally on several occasions as paid escorts to Joan Rivers. He starred in the 1996 production of Salad Days at the Vaudeville Theatre
, and in Tom Foolery
(Jermyn Street and national tour). He co-devised and starred in the original production of the Sondheim revue, Putting It Together. He makes occasional appearances on the many BBC Radio 4
series requiring witty panellists such as Just a Minute
and Quote Unquote. He was also a panellist on the unbroadcast pilot episode of QI
.
Winner of the 1988 Vivian Ellis
Award for writers for music theatre, he subsequently studied as a pupil of Stephen Sondheim, and his musicals include Writing Orlando (Barbican 1988) and Yusupov (Bridewell Theatre). He adapted the English version of Jacques Offenbach
's La Belle Hélène
(2006) directed by Laurent Pelly
for English National Opera
. His translation of The Bartered Bride
for Charles Mackerras
at the Royal Opera House
was Grammy-nominated, and he has translated many other operas, including The Turk In Italy, Le Roi Malgre Lui, The Marriage Of Figaro, The Daughter of the Regiment, Veronique, Bluebeard and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Original libretti include Varjak Paw (composer Julian Phillips). He co-produced Shadwell Opera's Magic Flute at the Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburgh,(Herald Angel Award 2009). His plays include Five O'Clock Angel at the Hampstead Theatre
. He writes regularly for Country Life
magazine (2009 IPC's Writer Of The Year). His radio play, A La Villa Bab Azzoun, produced by Moving Theatre, won the 2009 Prix Europa.
His translation of The Merry Widow is currently in Opera North's 2010/11 season, transferring in July 2011 to the Sydney Opera House. Armonico Consort are currently touring his piece Monteverdi's Flying Circus. In early 2011 he directed (for Merry Opera) his own adaptation of La Belle Helene, Troy Boy, currently on tour. This summer he will be collaborating with Gifford's Circus as lyricist for War And Peace at the Circus, directed by Irina Brown. He himself will be on tour with the Widow and Fascinating Aida, in Cowardy Custard, from April onwards.
In 1986, he married the actress and academic Catherine Rabett
and they have two children, Augusta (b 1987) and Rollo (b 1990). He is the brother of novelist and journalist Sarah Sands
. He lives in Norfolk and Cornwall.
Born in Nyasaland (now Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
), he was educated as senior chorister at Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
and then Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
in Kent before moving on as a choral scholar under John Rutter
John Rutter
John Milford Rutter CBE is a British composer, conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, mainly of choral music.-Biography:Born in London, Rutter was educated at Highgate School, where a fellow pupil was John Tavener. He read music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the...
to Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, later becoming a member of the Cambridge Footlights.
He wrote the script for Merchant Ivory's Maurice
Maurice (film)
Maurice is a 1987 British film based on the novel of the same title by E. M. Forster. It is a tale of homosexual love in early 20th century England, following its main character Maurice Hall from his school days through university until he is united with his life partner.It was produced by Ismail...
(1987), and has worked on the Vicar of Dibley series for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. He wrote Full Throttle, starring Rowan Atkinson, and Hans Andersen: My Life As A Fairytale (Hallmark).
He is the writer and singer of the musical comedy act Kit and The Widow
Kit and The Widow
Kit and The Widow are a double act, performing humorous songs in the vein of Tom Lehrer or Flanders and Swann; they also cite Anna Russell as an influence. They are Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Richard Sisson . They have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and in West End theatres, and accept private...
, which has had a number of West End and Broadway theatre runs and tours internationally. They have had their own series on BBC Radios 3 and 4, and two TV specials on Channel 4. They have toured internationally on several occasions as paid escorts to Joan Rivers. He starred in the 1996 production of Salad Days at the Vaudeville Theatre
Vaudeville Theatre
The Vaudeville Theatre is a West End theatre on The Strand in the City of Westminster. As the name suggests, the theatre held mostly vaudeville shows and musical revues in its early days. It opened in 1870 and was rebuilt twice, although each new building retained elements of the previous...
, and in Tom Foolery
Tom Foolery
Tom Foolery is a musical revue based on lyrics and music that Tom Lehrer first performed in the 1950s and 1960s.Devised and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, it premiered in London at the Criterion Theatre, directed by Gillian Lynne, on 5 June 1980, where it had a successful run...
(Jermyn Street and national tour). He co-devised and starred in the original production of the Sondheim revue, Putting It Together. He makes occasional appearances on the many BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
series requiring witty panellists such as Just a Minute
Just a Minute
Just a Minute is a BBC Radio 4 radio comedy panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons. Its first transmission on Radio 4 was on 22 December 1967, three months after the station's launch. The Radio 4 programme won a Gold Sony Radio Academy Award in 2003....
and Quote Unquote. He was also a panellist on the unbroadcast pilot episode of QI
QI
QI is a British comedy panel game television quiz show created and co-produced by John Lloyd, hosted by Stephen Fry, and featuring permanent panellist Alan Davies. Most of the questions are extremely obscure, making it unlikely that the correct answer will be given...
.
Winner of the 1988 Vivian Ellis
Vivian Ellis
Vivian Ellis was an English musical comedy composer best known for the song "Spread a Little Happiness" and the theme "Coronation Scot".-Life and work:...
Award for writers for music theatre, he subsequently studied as a pupil of Stephen Sondheim, and his musicals include Writing Orlando (Barbican 1988) and Yusupov (Bridewell Theatre). He adapted the English version of Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
's La Belle Hélène
La belle Hélène
La belle Hélène , opéra bouffe in three acts, is an operetta by Jacques Offenbach to an original French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy...
(2006) directed by Laurent Pelly
Laurent Pelly
Laurent Pelly is a French opera and theatre director. At the age of 18, he founded the Compagnie Théâtrale du Pélican which, since 1982, has been co-directed by Agathe Mélinand...
for English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
. His translation of The Bartered Bride
The Bartered Bride
The Bartered Bride is a comic opera in three acts by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, to a libretto by Karel Sabina. The opera is considered to have made a major contribution towards the development of Czech music. It was composed during the period 1863–66, and first performed at the...
for Charles Mackerras
Charles Mackerras
Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan...
at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
was Grammy-nominated, and he has translated many other operas, including The Turk In Italy, Le Roi Malgre Lui, The Marriage Of Figaro, The Daughter of the Regiment, Veronique, Bluebeard and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Original libretti include Varjak Paw (composer Julian Phillips). He co-produced Shadwell Opera's Magic Flute at the Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburgh,(Herald Angel Award 2009). His plays include Five O'Clock Angel at the Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was...
. He writes regularly for Country Life
Country Life (magazine)
Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
magazine (2009 IPC's Writer Of The Year). His radio play, A La Villa Bab Azzoun, produced by Moving Theatre, won the 2009 Prix Europa.
His translation of The Merry Widow is currently in Opera North's 2010/11 season, transferring in July 2011 to the Sydney Opera House. Armonico Consort are currently touring his piece Monteverdi's Flying Circus. In early 2011 he directed (for Merry Opera) his own adaptation of La Belle Helene, Troy Boy, currently on tour. This summer he will be collaborating with Gifford's Circus as lyricist for War And Peace at the Circus, directed by Irina Brown. He himself will be on tour with the Widow and Fascinating Aida, in Cowardy Custard, from April onwards.
In 1986, he married the actress and academic Catherine Rabett
Catherine Rabett
Catherine Rabett is a British actress.She played Cecily "Cissy" Meldrum in the BBC sitcom You Rang, M'Lord?...
and they have two children, Augusta (b 1987) and Rollo (b 1990). He is the brother of novelist and journalist Sarah Sands
Sarah Sands
Sarah Sands is a British journalist and author.-Journalistic career:The sister of Kit Hesketh-Harvey of musical duo Kit and The Widow, Sands trained on The Sevenoaks Courier as a news reporter, before moving to the Evening Standard, initially as editor of the Londoner's Diary, before taking...
. He lives in Norfolk and Cornwall.