Page 19 - link magazine

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:^u^utdo^t Swindon

Carers

Centre
[he Princess Ronal Trust
for Carers
Do you want to make
a difference to people's
THE LINK MAGAZINE'S GUIDE TO WHAT'S ON IN AND AROUND SWINDON lives?
Do you enjoy working in
Lydiard's X-rated poet, pornographer and the community?
Do you value quality
scandal monger who ripped through Royal circles training and support?
Emma Valentine says the forthcoming film The Libertine. starring Johnny Depp Do you have your own
as the 17th Century rake Lord Rochester in the court of Charles II. will reveal a different side
motor transport?
to the history of Lydiard House and also a different meaning to the word restoration
Johnny Depp will be remem- • The Libertine, directed by Law- I We are looking for
bered for two starring roles in rence Dunmore. is provisionally i very special people to join
2005. At the end of July he slated for release towards the end our team of Care Assistants to
will appear in a truly sticky of May. Depp is supported by John
role as Willy Wonker in Charlie Malkovich and Johnny Vegas. undertake regular work evenings,
and the Chocolate Factory. Penguin Books will be publish- weekends and early mornings.
But sometime this Spring ing an uncensored collection of
he will be revealed as Swin- Rochester's licentious poems to Swindon Carers Centre
don's first and perhaps only coincide with the film. 1 Wood Street
public lecher when he por- Lydiard House is open daily. Swindon SN1 4AN
trays one of Lydiard's most Seven state rooms complete with
notorious family members, original furnishings and family por- Telephone (01793) 542285
John Wilmot. 2nd Earl of traits. provide a unique insight into
Rochester. the people of Lydiard. For details, for an application pack
TheLibertinetells the story call 770401.
of this infamous 17th Century
poet. famed for his excessive
drinking and wild behaviour
that scandalised the corrupt All That Jazz
and debauched court of King
Charles II. Saturday 19th
Wilmot was typical of his February at 8pm
ti me: a courtier in fashion- Tickets £13.50
able Restoration society, a
skilled poet who served as a Excellent live musicians
model for countless witty and amazing dancers,
the cast will 'razzle-
young rakes in Restoration
comedy. Born in 1647 to dazzle" with exciting
Anne, daughter of Sir John St renditions of jazz and
John of Lydiard. and Henry popular favourites from
Actor Jon as Rochester in front of John
Wilmot. a Royalist General Riley s portrait of Rochester during the top musical shows and
under Charles I. Rochester films of all time.
Swindon Festival of Literature 2003
arrived at the court of Charles
II at the age of 17 and quickly set Samuel Johnson, the 18th Cen-
the pace for the band of wits, who turywritersummed up Rochester's An Evening vith
surrounded the king. life so: "With an avowed contempt
His fine poetry won him acclaim. of decency and order, a total disre- Jane McDonald
though the explicit nature and lewd gard to every moral, and a resolute
content of verses also drew deri- denial of every religious observa- Monday 28th February
sion. Rochester also started to at- ti on, he lived worthless and use- at 8pm
tract a reputation for hard drinking less and blazed out his youth and Tickets £19.50
and wild behaviour. He was even health in lavish voluptuousness.'
The sensational Jane
banished from court at one point A portrait of John Wilmot hangs McDonald comes to the Wyvern
after mistakenly - possibly drunk- in the dining room at Lydiard House
Theatre with a brand new show
enly - handing King Charles some along with other members of the St
— a breathtaking trip though the
coarse lines on the king himself John family, who lived through the
songs of the great female v
instead of a lampoon on ladies. social and political upheavals of
Eventually his career plummeted the English Civil War and Restora- stylist.
into illness and depression. He fell tion period. Inside St Mary's
out with his friend John Dryden. the Church. there is a statue of
greatest poet of the age. and was Rochester's mother. Anne. as a WYVERN THEATRE^,
embroiled in fights and lawsuits. girl kneeling at the foot of her fa- THEATRE SQUARE, SWINDON
Never robust in health, Rochester ther. Sir John St John, in his mar-
died in 1680, at the age of 33. ble tomb. Box OFFICE: (01793) 524481