Programme – Wylde Britain

This is your online CONCERT PROGRAMME for 'Wylde Britain'

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‘Wylde Britain’ - a one-hour musical journey through the British Isles

created and performed by Laurence Perkins (bassoon)
in a musical setting with natural soundscapes, and narrations specially recorded for ‘Wylde Britain’ by (in programme order) Sandra Voe, Sef Townsend, James Quinn, Stephen Bill, Sir Derek Jacobi and Dame Judi Dench

1. Shetland Dawn

Two traditional tunes from the most northerly parts of the British Isles. The lively dance character of “Da New Rigged Ship” is contrasted by “Da Day Dawn”, a very old haunting melody associated with the Winter Solstice where repeated short phrases seem to resemble an incantation for the daylight to return.

2. The ‘critter’ at Loch Ness

Sandra Voe is our characterful ‘critter’, alongside a gently-paced version of this traditional Scottish Strathspey ‘The Banks of Loch Ness’, a melody which is at least 200 years old. The bassoon’s solo line is set to an evocative piano accompaniment, recreating the calm character of this most famous of Scottish lochs.

Sandra Voe's acting career spans 60 years, beginning with an episode of Dr. Finlay's Casebook in 1966. Alongside her theatre performances including the Royal Shakespeare Company, she has appeared in numerous television dramas including Shetland, Coronation Street, Taggart, Monarch of the Glen, The Bill and Midsomer Murders. Her film appearances include 'Local Hero' in 1983.

3. A Roman Soldier at Hadrian’s Wall

Sef Townsend is a Roman soldier on Hadrian’s Wall. The famous aria ‘E lucevan le stelle’ (‘The stars were shining’) from Act III of Puccini’s opera ‘Tosca ‘ (set in Rome) seems to convey the longing which, in this instrumental version, expresses the feelings that many homesick Roman soldiers will have felt as they patrolled the famous 73-mile long wall.

Sef Townsend has been telling traditional stories in shanty towns and cultural centres; refugee camps and festivals for the past 25 years. Apart from regular work in London schools, he works on cross-cultural, interfaith and peace & reconciliation projects both in the UK and internationally. He was recently designated ‘Education Goodwill-Cultural Ambassador’ by the international group, Dream On, for his ‘long-standing and generous contribution to its mission that benefits children and youth around the world’.

4. Irish Idyll

Two Irish melodies - ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’, an early 19th century tune from the west coast of Ireland, and ‘Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór’, composed by the early 18th century Irish harpist Turlough O’Carolan, the latter being inspired by the Irish legend of the ‘little people’ who inhabit small and bigger hills.

5. The Wizard of Alderley Edge

James Quinn is the Wizard of Alderley Edge, the legend of an army of soldiers with white horses in a cave beneath the Edge, all asleep, with a wizard as their guardian. The melody is the ‘Alla Ciciliana’ from Sonata No. 2 for bassoon by Johann Ernst Galliard (1687-1747). The medieval origins of the bassoon’s voice combines with a 21st century digital soundscape for this story.

James has appeared in UK theatres including the Royal Exchange, Sheffield Crucible, the Old Vic, Birmingham Rep, Coventry Belgrade, Oldham Coliseum, Leicester Haymarket, Bolton Octagon and Greenwich Theatre. His TV and screen work includes Early Doors, Doctor Who, Father Brown, Bancroft, Gentleman Jack, Coronation Street, Fat Friends and the film Apostasy. James has performed in dozens of BBC radio dramas and comedies including his own comedy series, Sir Ralph Stanza’s Letter from Salford. James co-founded JB Shorts, Manchester’s award-winning festival of new short plays. His short, At the End of the Day, became BBC Radio 5 Live’s first drama commission.

6. White Snowdon

Two Welsh traditional tunes from North Wales. ‘Eryri Wen’ (‘White Snowdon’) and ‘Bwlch Llanberis" (‘The Pass of Llanberis’) in a simple musical setting recreating a winter scene in that beautiful area. Snowdon is the largest of all the Welsh mountains, considered to be sacred by the ancient Britons.

7. Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest

Stephen Bill is Robin Hood. The date of this legend is uncertain, but this is likely to have been created close to the date of William Byrd’s music ‘The Woods so Wylde’, written in 1590. It’s based on a popular song of the day ‘As I walked the wode so wylde’, which was attributed to Henry VIII. Given the link with wood and trees, this adapted version for bassoon ensemble seems entirely appropriate!

Stephen's television appearances include the part of Humphrey Pyecroft in Irate Dinner Tables, as well as rôles in Churchill's People, Survivors, Spearhead, Crown Court, Barriers, The Olympian Way, The Bill and Full Stretch. His film appearances include 'Prick Up your Ears' in 1987. As a writer, his plays include The English Programme, The Darling Buds of May, The Locksmith and Maisie Raine. He was made Playwright of the Year in 1996 for his production of “What the Heart Feels” at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond.

8. Conversation with a Nightingale

Sir Derek Jacobi reads excerpts from “Among the Ferns” by Edward Carpenter, in a sequence with images of a beautiful woodland in Sussex. Echoes of a traditional song ‘The Cuckoo’ are followed by ‘Conversation with a Nightingale’ by Bill Connor (specially written for ‘Wylde Britain’), which includes the song of a nightingale - a location recording made by Laurence Perkins.

Sir Derek Jacobi in the 'Wylde Britain' recording session. Photo by Laurence Perkins.

After the launch of his career as a founding member of the National Theatre alongside Sir Laurence Olivier, Derek Jacobi went on to appear in numerous Shakespeare productions, including Much Ado About Nothing in 1985 which won him a Tony Award for Best Actor. His other awards include the British Academy Television Award in 1976 for his rôle in the BBC series I Claudius, and Primetime Emmy Awards for The Tenth Man (1988) and Frasier (2001). His endlessly wide range of roles include playing Adolf Hitler in the television drama Inside The Third Reich (1982), and voicing Mr Jeremy Fisher in The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (1994).

9. The Mermaid of Zennor

Dame Judi Dench reads Oberon’s ‘mermaid’ lines from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare (specially recorded for ‘Wylde Britain’), setting the scene for this old Cornish mermaid legend from the village of Zennor, near St. Ives. The story has been recreated in music written for ‘Wylde Britain’ by Cornish composer Judith Bailey.

In a career spanning seven decades, Judi Dench has won a vast number of major awards. Her early work included numerous Shakespeare productions, with regular work for the RSC over many years. She moved into films with a part in Room With a View in 1985, followed by her rôle as M in Golden Eye in 1995, the first of eight Bond films in which she appeared. She was awarded an OBE in 1970, a DBE in 1988 and a CH in 2005. The Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End will be renamed the Judi Dench Theatre in February 2027.

10. Land’s End - The Beginning of the World

This purely musical Finale is based on a 17th century dance melody in the Playford collection. This is Land’s End as a positive beginning, with moments of quiet and exploratory melodic fragments giving way to a full-blooded version of the full melody, on the solid musical foundation of a pedal bass. Its uplifting optimism suggests an anthem of hope and positivity for the future.

This concert is a fundraising event for UK-Med, as are all live performances of 'Wylde Britain'. The box office takings and your donations support their vital medical aid for survivors in Ukraine, war zones worldwide and natural disasters including Venezuela. UK-Med is verified by the World Health Organisation - their work is similar to that of Médecins Sans Frontières.

Thank you for your support for this event and for UK-Med. If you would like to make a further donation towards the work of UK-Med, click HERE to make a direct online donation.

LP with Judi Dench, May 2026 (photo: Piers Allardyce)

Laurence Perkins is well-known worldwide for his pioneering work as a solo bassoonist. He was principal bassoonist in Manchester Camerata until 2017, playing in orchestral and chamber concerts throughout the UK, Europe and worldwide. His live radio broadcasts include solo performances on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Laurence’s recordings for Hyperion include solo albums with the CBSO, the New London Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra, with four albums between 2019 and 2025 entering the UK Classical Charts. Laurence was bassoon tutor and Director of Wind Chamber Music at Dartington International Summer School for 18 years, and continues to be very committed to working with amateur musicians as a bassoon and chamber music tutor.

'Wylde Britain' concerts:
Laurence is giving all concert performances of 'Wylde Britain' without fee, as part of this fundraising project for UK-Med. Only essential expenses are covered, and this is from a separate fund to ensure that the charity receives as much funding as possible. If you feel that you can contribute towards the expenses of putting on these concerts (travel, accommodation, venue costs, etc. as required), there will be a chance to do so at the Welcome Desk at the end of this concert. Alternatively, you can contact Laurence directly at https://wyldebritain.com/contact/ and he will pass on bank details to make a direct donation without incurring bank charges. Thank you ever so much!