McCartney Times

A new play described as ‘The Beatles meets The Da Vinci Code’ is set to premiere in the city next year.And producers are confident that audience members will emerge from the Epstein theatre after each performance determined to solve the real-life mystery for themselves.ADVERTISINGLennon ’s Banjo is the intriguing tale of the very first instrument the former Beatle learned to play as a youngster and the ongoing search for it.The instrument belonged to Lennon’s mum Julia, who taught him how to play it. Following her death in 1958, the banjo disappeared.Now writer Rob Fennah wants to reinvigorate the search for six decades and hopes his fictionalised account, big on comedy, will provide an appropriate catalyst.Set in the present day, tour guide Barry Seddon finds a letter written by Lennon himself which reveals the location of the legendary banjo.

The letter also attracts the attention of US dealer Travis Lawson who would like to get his hands on pop’s holy grail too.

Rob said: “Without [the banjo], there wouldn’t have been a Beatles and without them, everything we know today would be different.

“Given that a piano John once owned went under the hammer at Sotheby’s for one-and-a-half million pounds, it’s reasonable to assume the banjo, the first intrument the rock‘n’roll legend ever learned to play, would be worth millions more.

Source: Hunt for holy grail of John Lennon’s career begins in Liverpool next year – Liverpool Echo