Local author to give two talks on ‘The Trials of Colonel Barker’

Writer and performer Rose Collis will give two talks about her book Colonel Barker’s Monstrous Regiment and the new stage play she is writing, based on the book.

At these special events, she will be talking about the research and creative processes involved in producing both works, and shedding light on the extraordinary, complex story of someone who veered from tragedy to farce to fame to obscurity, but who always strove to remain ‘a perfect gentleman’.

Rose says: “The story of Col Victor Barker, aka Valerie Arkell-Smith, is one of identity: gender identity, hidden identities, class identities and the conflict between private and public identities”.

Colonel Barker’s Monstrous Regiment was first published to enormous critical acclaim in 2001.

Excellent… treads a careful line between sensation and sentiment……….Daily Telegraph

Collis’s unpretentious, ribald, chatty style carries this ripping yarn……….Time Out

Both events will have Q&A sessions, and copies of Colonel Barker’s Monstrous Regiment will be on sale.

The Trials of Colonel Barker will have its first rehearsed reading at the Purple Playhouse, Brighton (date tbc) during the second Hove Grown Festival of new writing taking place from March 24 to April 2.

The events are:

Where: Worthing Library, Richmond Rd, Worthing, BN11 1HD (fully accessible).

When: Tuesday, February 28

Time: 12.10pm

Cost: Free.

Where: Jubilee Library, Conference Room 3, Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE (fully accessible)

When: Sunday, March 5

Time: 2pm

Cost: Tickets £5, advance booking recommended:

To book online, click here: