On six evenings, from 4^th – 9^th August, LizO entertains her audience with facts and stories from the history of her family, who were 19^th century immigrants and their descendants.

Family history is mainly interesting for those who know and belong to the family, and there were several appreciative family members in the audience. For them, and others who relish genealogy, LizO read out an account, based on Census records, of how life used to be; people’s occupations as craftsmen or labourers; tales of failing health and early death, children orphaned at an early age.

LizO’s ancestors (clearly set out in copies of the family tree handed round the audience) appeared modest, decent and hard-working. It would have been interesting to understand more about how these brave immigrants adapted to their new culture. The one high spot was when grandmother Catherine, reputed to be an actress, had a walk-on part with Sarah Bernhardt, in which she offered the famous lady a cup of tea. But even this may not have been true.

LizO has set herself a difficult and ambitious task in using her family history to capture the audience’s interest. One of the challenges was to write 35 songs for the series of presentations, when she had never written one in her life before!

LizO’s one-women shows are dedicated to her late parents “who managed, without ever saying it, or even perhaps believing it, to make me think that ‘I was the best thing since sliced bread.’”

Heather Lister