1901 Arts Club Archives

A Tribute to Trader Faulkner at the 1901 Arts Club

28th August 2025

Our annual Celestial Birthday party for actor, writer, raconteur and flamenco dancer Trader Faulkner this year takes place in the stylish and convivial surroundings of the 1901 Arts Club, London, on Monday 8 September.

Join pianists Viv McLean, Alex Norton and Tyler Hay, soprano Sofia Kirwan-Baez, and actress Susan porrett – plus a Surprise Celebrity Guest – for an evening of music, words, anecdotes and reminiscences. The programme includes music by Gershwin, Debussy, De Falla, Albeniz, and Medtner.

Tickets £30 (this concert is in support of the ENO Benevolent Fund)

Find out more / book tickets here

Ronald “Trader” Faulkner was an Australian actor, raconteur and flamenco dancer, best known for his work in the UK on stage and television.

Faulkner was born in Manly, Australia, the son of inventor and actor John Faulkner and the Scottish ballerina Sheila Whytock, who had danced in Diaghilev’s company in London and with Anna Pavlova in South America. He was dubbed “Trader” after being caught stealing his father’s illicit bathtub whiskey with his schoolmates to exchange for marbles.

Resident in the UK since 1950, Trader enjoyed a long theatre and TV acting career. He was a student and protégé of Peter Finch and worked with many great stage actors of the twentieth century, including John Gielgud, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Paul Scofield and Anthony Quayle.

A renowned Flamenco expert, Trader established his own flamenco company and took lessons in Seville from Enrique El Cojo, the celebrated flamenco maestro. He also wrote, choreographed and performed in his own tribute to the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, and a result of his translating and performing efforts to the works of carious notable Spanish playwrights as well as Lorca to British audiences, Trader was awarded the Royal Spanish Order of Merit by King Juan Carlos.

He was a great friend and supporter of 7 Star Arts and appeared in a number of our most popular shows, including Classic Gershwin, An Evening with Vivien Leigh, and Cocktails with Vivien. This concert is a celebration of his life and career in music and words, performed by his friends from the worlds of music and theatre.

More concerts at the 1901 Arts Club!

29th July 2025

Our residency at the stylish 1901 Arts Club in Waterloo, London SE1, continues this autumn. If you have not yet discovered this charming small venue, now is the time to do so! Join us for music and more.

8 Septemer TRADER’S CELESTIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY Our annual tribute to the actor, dancer, writer and raconteur Trader Faulkner from his friends in the worlds of music and theatre. Feat. Viv McLean, Susan Porrett, Sofia Kirwan-Baez, Alex Norton & a Celebrity Special Guest. Music by Gershwin, Debussy, Albeniz, de Falla & more

3 November ANTHONY HEWITT piano. A recital by “remarkably gifted” (Gramophone) pianist Anthony Hewitt, in support of Parkinson’s UK.

21 January 2026 EMANUIL IVANOV piano. Music by Schumann, Messiaen, Hough together with the world premiere of Emanuil’s own work, ‘Dreamscapes’.

Alongside these concerts, we return to convivial Cafe Yukari in Kew on 21 November for a concert by Emanuil Ivanov and his wife Irini Chagunava. Before that. we’re back at Ham House Stables with Viv McLean and friends for a special Celebration! concert on 14th October.

Find full details and tickets for all our forthcoming concerts on our Events page.

We look forward to seeing you at our concerts.

Divine Fire at the 1901 Arts Club

20th June 2025

We are delighted to announce that our acclaimed music and words production Divine Fire receives its 1901 Arts Club debut as part of our residency at London’s most stylish small venue.

Featuring some of Chopin’s loveliest piano works, Divine Fire traces the passionate and at times tempestuous relationship between Fryderyk Chopin and the authoress George Sand, from their first meeting in Paris in 1836 until their parting in 1849.

‘Divine fire’ was Sand’s own description of the intensity of her attraction to Chopin, suggesting a love that transcended the purely physical to a more spiritual plane, a meeting of bodies and minds.

The story unfolds through a compelling, dramatic narration of events by the RSC, National Theatre and TV actress Susan Porrett, interspersed with fiery Scherzos, heartrending Ballades, intimate lyrical Nocturnes and stirring Polonaises, performed by acclaimed concert pianist Viv McLean.

An absorbing, moving and beautifully presented evening of words and music

The Cross-Eyed Pianist

Tuesday 24 June at 7.30pm (doors/bar open 6.30pm)

Tickets £35

Post-concert Q&A and meet the performers

BOOK TICKETS

George Sand & Fryderyk Chopin

SAVE THE DATE! Alistair McGowan at the 1901 Arts Club

15th October 2024

We’re excited to announce two dates with comic, actor, writer and pianist Alistair McGowan at the convivial 1901 Arts Club.

Wednesday 22 January 2025

Alistair McGowan : 3-in-1

Poetry, comedy and piano

Alistair brings you the comedy and impressions for which he is known and loved, plays short piano favourites by Chopin, Grieg, Elgar, Satie and others, and reads from his newly-published poetry collection. Expect beautiful music, poignant poems and spot-on mimicry. It’s three great shows in one!

Tuesday 11 March 2025

Alistair McGowan : “Erik Satie : his words, his music, your ears”

Using Satie’s own surreally comedic writings and extracts from his letters as well as playing many of his best known short piano works, Alistair tells the story of Erik Satie’s bizarre, brave and lonely life. With vocal contributions from soprano, Charlotte Page. “A perfect Edinburgh show” (Stephanie Merritt, The Observer)

Tickets will be on sale soon. If you haven’t yet discovered the 1901 Arts Club, an intimate salon-style small venue close to Waterloo station, now is the time to do so! (See our listings for other concerts at this exquisite gem of a venue).

https://www.1901artsclub.com