OLIVIER Award-nominated actress Elizabeth Mansfield plays legendary singer Edith Piaf in a musical homage taking place in Teesdale.

Hymn to Love, which will be performed at Mickleton Village Hall, on Thuersday, April 12, explores love, loss and longing and includes 13 of Piaf’s songs, each given fresh meaning in vibrant new English translations.

Songs by The Little Sparrow – Piaf’s nickname – have been featured in French in Mickleton previously but in this Highlights Rural Touring Scheme production only one – Je Ne Regrette Rien – will be sung in French.

The setting is a Manhattan hotel room in New York as Piaf rehearses for her last US concert. But for her the hotel holds memories.

Eight years earlier in the same hotel she had telephoned her lover, boxer Marcel Cerdan, begging him to overcome his fear of flying and leave France to be with her.

Hours later she heard the terrible news that his plane had crashed. Marcel was dead.

Past, present, and future merge in this passionate, memorable and unmissable piece of theatre which is performed to live piano music with a narrative interspersed with autobiographical monologues and reminiscences.

Songs featured include Milord, L’Accordéoniste, La Vie en Rose, Padam Padam, La Foule, L’Hymne à l’Amour, C’est à Hambourg, Mon Légionnaire, Comme Moi, La Ville Inconnue.

This show was created by Mansfield, along with writer Steve Trafford and director Annie Castledine, the same team whose one-woman musical tribute to Queen of the Musical Marie Lloyd won Mansfield her Olivier nomination.

David Hutchinson, chairman of Mickleton Village Hall Committee, said “We are delighted to welcome back Highlights Rural Touring to Mickleton and are looking forward to a great evening of entertainment”.

Hymn to Love – Homage to Piaf, Thursday, April 12, at 7.30pm. Mickleton Village Hall, DL12 0JY Tickets: £10 adults, £6 children, £26 family (2A &2C). Full bar open. Bookings on 01833 640909, mickletonvh@gmail.com or online at http://www.highlightsnorth.co.uk