Kitty Clive was the most famous singer-actress of the mid-eighteenth century and sought after by the managers of the Drury Lane Theatre. Composers such as Pepusch, Arne and Handel wrote arias specifically for her and she even collaborated with them on rewriting music to make it fit her style and persona, championing English musical theatre. Clive advocated for women’s rights in and outside the playhouse, defined her own image and even reimagined herself as the first female comedian. ‘A Star is Born’ follows Kitty Clive throughout her career, dramatising events in her professional and personal life, some true to life and others with a pinch of creative freedom.

Prior to the performance, ticket holders can gain access to the Foundling Museum and there is a pre-performance talk given by Katharine Hogg of the Foundling Museum on the Gallery’s permanent collection and the continued influence of Handel.