When a Yorkshire troubadour met a French chansonnier
Peter Prowse
- Regions:
- South East, London, Wiltshire, Dorset
- Notice Period:
- Regular (more than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Hobby
- Fee:
- Paid: £75 plus expenses
- Category:
- Entertainment
- Updated:
- 23rd February 2026
- Tagged:
- Music; Songs; French; Satire;
Yorkshireman Jake Thackray - known to many from his regular singing appearances with Esther Rantzen on televisions 'That's Life' - lived in France for a few years and there met one of his heroes, the celebrated French chansonnier Georges Brassens. The two became friends, and Jake Thackray translated and performed several Georges Brassens songs. The two also wrote many songs on similar themes, including love, death, war and, strangely, nuns.
The talk includes insights into the lives of both singer-songwriters and performances of a few songs, in both English and French.
Views: 6 | Enquiries: 0About Peter Prowse
I am a songwriter, singer and guitarist and a qualified translator (from French). SInce 2020, I have been combining these interests by giving talks - mainly to French clubs in the UK and groups of professional translators in France - about French singers and songwriters (eg Georges Brassens, Charles Trenet, Yves Montand). I also give talks about the differences between French and English songs, and what happens when a song moves from one language and culture to another.
During the talks, I perform songs in both English and French. I can project the words on to a screen and many audiences enjoy a singalong.
I also give talks about:
- Cycling the Canal du Midi (with lots of information about the canal and the towns along the route)
- The history of magic, with special refernce to the French magician Robert-Houdin.
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