FOLLOWING the sell-out success of his one-man-show at The Courtyard in January, a show based on his research into the music written in the 1920s for West End shows by well-loved Broadway and Carnegie Hall composer George Gershwin, Alan Durman will be presenting a follow-up event at The Courtyard on Sunday October 12.

This time, Alan will be talking about his trip to New York in 2005 to visit many of the historic sites related to the life and work of the composer.

"The easiest places to find were the theatres where he worked on the first performances of classic shows, apart from those which have since been demolished," says Alan. "I also visited houses and apartments where he had lived, and made quite a challenging journey to his grave."

These anecdotes will be illustrated by songs and rare piano selections that Alan has discovered from Gershwin’s Broadway shows, such as Girl Crazy, Of Thee I Sing and Strike Up the Band. Alan also includes a selection from a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie, Shall We Dance.

Alan has recorded the piano selections on his second World Premiere CD, George Gershwin: Piano Selections (available at Outback Records and on Itunes) which follows his earlier Gershwin CD which was featured on David Mellor’s New Releases Show on Classic FM, when he commented that, "Alan Durman is a very proficient exponent of Gershwin ... It’s like sitting in a superior piano bar hearing Alan play."

To book for the show on Sunday, October 12 at 2.30pm, call the box office on 01432 340555 or book online at courtyard.org.uk