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A Tribute to Trader Faulkner at the 1901 Arts Club

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.

Viv McLean
Viv McLean
pianist Tyler Hay
Tyler Hay
Susan Porrett
Sofia Kirwan-Baez
Sofia Kirwan-Baez
Alex Norton

Events

TRADER’S WORLD at the 1901 Arts Club

A celebration of the life of Trader Faulkner – film and tv actor, writer, director, translator, raconteur, acrobat and Flamenco dancer.

Performers include:

VIV McLEAN piano

SOFIA KIRWAN-BAEZ soprano

TYLER HAY piano

Tickets £30
In support of the ENO Benevolent Fund

So glad I didn’t miss it! An all- star line-up from @7stararts celebrating the special genius of the late Trader Faulkner with an ace evening of music, dance & drama – from Gershwin & Vivien Leigh to Shakespeare & Noel Coward with a fabulous touch of Flamenco – they did Trader proud!
Gyles Brandreth on X, 2021

 

In his long, colourful, extraordinary career, Trader Faulkner worked with the greats of twentieth century theatre, including Peter Finch, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Anthony Quayle and Paul Scofield, many of whom became life-long, close friends, and had encounters with a broad array of characters including Pablo Picasso, Marlene Dietrich, Hattie Jacques, Noel Coward, Martin Amis and Christine Keeler

Propelled by enchanting stories from his biography “Inside Trader”, read by his friend actor and writer Bill Roberts, we ‘put a girdle round about the earth’ in 90 minutes – from Australia to London to New York, to France and Andalusia, illustrated with the music of Debussy, Fauré, Gershwin, De Falla, Albéniz, Piazzolla… and the poetry of Shakespeare, Lorca, Coward…

Ronald “Trader” Faulkner (7 September 1927 – 14 April 2021) was an Australian actor, raconteur and flamenco dancer, best known for his work in the UK on the stage and television. A colleague and friend to stars like Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud, he was also a great supporter of and friend to 7 Star Arts, appearing in many of our shows, including our sell-out Cocktails With Vivien.

Trader Faulkner