IF YOU fancy a full, dramatic evening, interwoven with brilliant song, look no further than the Haymarket theatre next month.

Portraits in Song, performed solely by Elizabeth Mansfield, presents the work of two very different artists - Edith Piaf and Bertolt Brecht.

Piaf's mother was an alcoholic street singer and part-time prostitute who neglected and eventually abandoned her. She lived a disjointed life until 1935, when she was discovered by a nightclub owner who gave her the nickname Le Mome Piaf, "The Little Sparrow", which she adopted as her stage name.

One of the great dramatists of the 20th century, Brecht suffered through the rise of fascism, living most of his life in exile from Hitler's persecution.

Elizabeth (pictured) explains the origins of the show. "It came about because of my past performances as Piaf. My partner, Steve Trafford, wrote a piece about her called Hymn to Love, and the main essence was that we got the holder of her rights to allow the translation of them into English.

"The translations were so acclaimed that we wanted to find another way to use them. Through her songs she talked about her life so we thought it would be a wonderful way to weave them with biography.

"We combined it with Brecht, as these people were contemporaries but who had completely different attitudes to the world. They were both creative, but seeing the world from the opposite end of the spectrum."

Did she do much research for the role?

"I did a huge amount - it helps an awful lot. I believe that the most important thing as an artist is to empathise with whomever you are portraying. You could actually describe the whole performance as Brechtian because I'm asking the audience to come with me on this journey."

Elizabeth is accompanied on piano by Russell Churney, who, interestingly, spent seven years as the pianist for Julian Clary, touring extensively in Britain and overseas and appearing in two series of Sticky Moments. She is full of praise for his ability.

"We love working together. He's enormously talented, and has been on the world tour with Fascinating Aida. There's something very clean about being on stage. I don't find it hard while I'm up there as I just get into my tunnel of focus.

"The audience are my other player, and a dialogue exists between them and me. They respond by silence, by laughter, by applause - Piaf tugs the heartstrings and Brecht makes you think."

So there's something there for everyone?

"Absolutely. I think they are universal - the embracing of these two characters covers the entire gamut of emotions."

Elizabeth Mansfield will be appearing in Portraits in Song at the Haymarket Theatre on Sunday, February 1, at 7.45pm. Tickets, priced from £8.50, are available from the box office on 01256 465566.