Hero & Leander

Or, I Love You, But Everything’s Under Water

From Jack Dean & Company

After a successful 2021 UK tour, Jack Dean & Company are back on the road for Summer and Autumn 2022 with Hero & Leander, the epic story of Ancient Greece’s doomed lovers. Developed using Jack Dean & Company’s signature style, Hero & Leander features six multi-instrumentalist performing a variety of folk, indie, sea shanties and choral music in this new cross between concept album and gig-theatre. Touring with its own bandstand Hero & Leander creates a unique atmosphere wherever it goes from music venues to festivals and village greens to theatre gardens.

About the show

Two towns, one rich and one poor, stand separated by a narrow strip of ocean. When the borders close and ships stop sailing between them, two lovers are left stranded on either side. Unphased, Leander takes to swimming across the channel to meet Hero, guided by the light of the lighthouse where she lives. But the jealous and vengeful Hephaestus, carrying an ancient grudge, plots to separate them with a flood like neither town has ever seen.

We all know this will probably end badly. But just maybe, this time, it will turn out different…

“Artists like rap storyteller Jack Dean make us excited about what  they might do next”

The Guardian

Written by Jack Dean.
Composed by Jack Dean & Company.

Written by Jack Dean.
Composed by Jack Dean & Company.
Cello / Vocals / Percussion – Beatrice Newman
Violin / Vocals / Percussion – Yoon Ji Kim
Vocals / percussion – Siân Keen
Trumpet / Guitars / Vocals – Hanno Rigger
Guitars / Vocals / Percussion– Jack Dean Accordion / Vocals / Percussion – Jay Kerry

Commissioned and supported by Unlimited, celebrating the work of disabled artists, with funding from Farnham Maltings and Arts Council England.