The Heaviest of Swells Vol I; A Life and Times in the Music Hall

The life of British Music Hall's first Super Star, George Leybourne [1842-1884], also known as Champagne Charlie, has always been shrouded in mystery. This book puts the record straight.

Delving deeper than ever before Beeching takes a 'detective-like' approach and comes up with some surprising results, unlocking family secrets, as well as other revelations.

Drawing from his own theatrical career, contemporary descriptions, song covers illustrations of the 1860' to 1880's, he analyses Leybourne's performance methods, conditions, as well as the deterioration in Leybourne's health as constant touring took their toll culminating in his death at the age of 42.

Written with style & humour The Heaviest of Swells shows a glimpse of life from the slums of Gateshead where Leybourne was born, to the drawing rooms of the Victorian Middle classes, giving a fascinating account of Leybourne's life as a music hall artiste, his career, and the many problems to be encountered by any music hall performer of the period.

From a very early age Christopher Beeching has led a life of total immersion in theatre, music hall and the history of theatre, not only as a performer but as a director, choreographer and designer, in a career which spans over 60 years.His West End debut was made in the 1970's at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, as Brent Tarleton in the first musical version of Gone with the Wind. Since then he has appeared in many other shows, including those of Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber.Champagne Charlie, his much praised one-man show based on the life and songs of George Leybourne, has been seen in many venues around the UK, as well as having television and radio exposure. A studio recording of Leybourne's songs used in the show was released on CD in 2005. His final performance of the show in 2012, given at London's Wilton's Music Hall, was live-streamed around the globe, with that performance being released on DVD in 2013.Since moving to Crete he has worked as a journalist and presenter of an English news programme while still continuing his theatrical work in Athens.