A woman with short blonde hair playing the cello, looking down, with a quote on the left side of the image that reads, "Playing lifts you out of yourself into a delirious place." - Jacqueline du Pré.

Based on the Life on Jacqueline Du Pré

Written by Mischa Jardine

 

Based on the Life of Jacqueline du Pré is a multidisciplinary stage production celebrating the life, legacy, and enduring influence of legendary cellist Jacqueline du Pré. Fusing live music, movement, and biographical storytelling, the piece explores her meteoric rise to international acclaim, her vibrant artistic spirit, and her resilience in the face of multiple sclerosis (MS). Written and led by Mischa Jardine, the project invites audiences into an immersive experience that highlights the power of music, the challenges of chronic illness, and the significance of female representation in classical music. This Research & Development phase will bring the script into the rehearsal room for the first time, working with creatives, musicians, and MS community partners to shape the production. It aims to engage both general audiences and young musicians, inspiring a new generation while ensuring Jacqueline’s story continues to educate and empower through performance.

Young woman with long hair smiling while holding a cello.

Based on the Life of Jacqueline du Pré is a new multidisciplinary stage production that blends live music, movement, and biographical storytelling to honour the life and legacy of Jacqueline du Pré, one of the most celebrated classical musicians of the 20th century. The project seeks to explore not only her brilliance as a cellist but also her resilience in the face of her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis (MS), which tragically curtailed her career. At its core, the piece is an exploration of artistic identity, representation, and the human capacity for endurance in the face of adversity.

In 2026, the Research & Development phase will bring a fully written script into the rehearsal room, marking the beginning of the project’s transformation from page to stage. This dedicated period will allow the creative team to shape the emotional and sensory language of the piece, weaving together words, movement, and music. The motivation behind this project continues to stem from a deeply personal and artistic connection to Jacqueline’s story. As a young woman who grew up surrounded by classical music, I was inspired by her joyful stage presence and emotional depth, her visibility as a female soloist in a male-dominated field left an indelible mark on my sense of identity and ambition. At a time when access to arts education is narrowing, particularly for young women, this piece seeks to reignite her legacy and reassert the importance of role models in music and the arts. Layered within this is my own lived experience of chronic illness within my family, which gives the work an intimacy and authenticity that runs through its core.

The production will be realised collaboratively with a dynamic team of emerging and established creatives. I will lead as writer and performer, working with Patrick O’Niell (Director), with dramaturgical support from established Welsh writer Matthew Bulgo. Professional actors, alongside a movement artist and designer, will help shape the piece’s physical and visual language. We will also collaborate with an MS Consultant to ensure the representation of chronic illness remains both accurate and sensitive. This collaborative, research-led process will ensure that the production develops with artistic rigour, inclusivity, and integrity.

Ultimately, the project stands as both a tribute and a call to action, a celebration of a remarkable woman’s artistry, and an invitation to the next generation to find their own voices through music and creativity, even in the face of barriers that may seem impossible.