Casanova: More than just a lover.

To be labelled a “Casanova” means you are a notorious seducer and or lover with multiple partners, but the real Casanova was more than just your average libertine.

Writer and performer Loucas Loizou, in his new one man show, offers a unique tale of this real to life character Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) - a legendary adventurer, philosopher who gained notoriety as a womaniser and gambler, who was born in Venice, and died in Dux, Bohemia (now known as Czech Republic).

Casanova was also a musician; he wrote songs for merriment and fun and he, like Loizou today, was an entertainer and colourful storyteller. Loizou enchants us with the many tales of Casanova’s life, delighting our sensational palette with story, song and music. And dressed in eighteenth century attire, waistcoat, knee breeches and a wig, walks on to the stage as the elderly Casanova, who at the age of sixty and now in his twilight years, begins the final chapters of his life as a librarian in the Castle Dux. It was a time to ponder his own life and write his eleven-volume autobiography.

Loizou has selected tales from the volumes, interweaving his own songs - his rustic voice and signature folky style caresses our emotional chords with his exquisite acoustic guitar arrangement. His song “Fly with Me” plays on Casanova’s early sexual experiences, wooed by his lover only to realise that they were both virgins. While in “Come Along and Dance”, there is love of life and celebration, “dance and sing and forget your problems”. Both songs are sweet melodies and reflect on Casanova’s early years as a young man in Venice, eager for love and experience.

Loizou’s song arrangement for 'Bella Senorita' was shortlisted by the BBC back in the nineties, it represented the UK at the Eurovision contest; he utilises this song to reflect on Casanova’s sordid love affair with a feisty Spanish woman.

Loizou is a captivating performer and musician; he lives and breathes his muse with zeal and passion and sings every note with fervent delight. A wonderful show!

Flora Georgiou

Photographer: Geoff Hastwell