Available talks by Jonathan Jones
A Christmas Carol
A dramatised reading of Charles Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’. It is a one-man performance, bringing all the characters to life with different voices and mannerisms. It runs for 1 hour. I have now performed it over 100 times, and to 14 other U3As.
Rudyard Kipling: Something of Myself
Rudyard Kipling’s life story, told in the first-person and interspersed with dramatic readings of some of his best known poems. I have performed it over 200 times, including several times at Bateman’s, and to 15 other U3As.
An Audience with C.S. Lewis
Delivered in the first person, ‘Jack’ Lewis talks about his life and fame before the Narnia Chronicles. It is interspersed with readings from ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and ‘The Screwtape Letters’.
The Role of a Town Crier; Something to Shout About
I come in full regalia and talk about my 17 years as Town Crier for Farnham in Surrey. The talk covers how I became A crier, my uniform, my duties and the role of Criers in days gone by. I have delivered it over 400 times and feedback is that it is both informative and amusing.
Lest We Forget: Remembrance and Poetry of the Great War
A look at how we commemorate and remember the events of the Great War - the Cenotaph, the Unknown Warrior, Poppy Appeal, Torch of Remembrance, etc. - interspersed with readings of the finest and best known poetry of that conflict.
Women's Poetry of the Great War
A look at women’s poetry of the Great War. The soldier poets could tell us about living, fighting and dying in the trenches but it was left to the Women to convey how it felt to be left behind and not knowing what was happening to one’s loved ones.
Stanley Holloway
A look at Stanley Holloway’s life and the three men who had to greatest influence on his career, including William Shakespeare - interspersed with readings of some of his best known monologues and comic verse.
A Christmas Cracker
A miscellany of prose and poetry for the festive season - some old favourites, some new, some serious, but most light-hearted. Ideal for a Christmas entertainment.
Emily Bronte: Her Poetry
Emily Bronte is best known for ‘Wuthering Heights’, but she also wrote over 200 poems and which are explored in this talk, together with a look at her life and influences.
Vera Brittain: Loved & Lost
Vera Brittain is best known for ‘Testament of Youth’. This talk looks at her poetry and the four men she was to lose during the Great War, including her brother and fiancé.
Memory: Tricks and Techniques
Do the participants in the World Memory Championships have memories that are vastly superior to yours and mine?
The answer is no! However, what they do have is knowledge of certain tricks and techniques, and which I will reveal to you. Requires access to screen, projector and laptop.
Pickwick Papers
'Pickwick Papers' was the first novel to be published by Charles Dickens under his own name. I will explain how it came to be written, interspersed with readings of some of my favourite passages.
Charles dickens - Public Readings
In the latter part of his career, Charles Dickens became renowned for his public readings of some of his best known novels, particularly 'A Christmas Carol'. I will explain how the readings came about, and why they were so well received by his adoring public.
Rudyard Kipling: Female of the Species
In this talk I look at how Rudyard Kipling portrayed the opposite sex in his prose and poetry, interspersed with readings.
Rudyard Kipling: Tommy
In this talk, which was written for our Military History Group, I explore how Rudyard Kipling depicted the military, and particularly the common soldier, Tommy Atkins, in his prose and poetry, interspersed with readings from 'Barrack Room Ballads'.
Edward Thomas: The Road Not Taken
In this talk I look at the life and work of Edward Thomas, and particularly his friendship with the American poet Robert Frost, interspersed with readings of his and contemporary prose and poetry.
A Channel Relay
In 2018, I took part in a six-person English Channel Relay to raise monies for the Aspire Charity. In this talk, I look at what was involved, as well as the history of English Channel swimming.
Robert Burns
In this talk on Robert Burns, the 'Ploughman Poet'.
I look at:-
Why is he so revered in Scotland, and indeed around the world
What happens at a Burn's Supper
The various, and many, women in his life
I intersperse this with readings of some of his best known poems, lyrics and prose.
Dylan Thomas
A look at the life and works of Dylan Thomas, interspersed with readings from 'Under Milk Wood' and other of his prose and poetry.