The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists Our next production is 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' by Robert Tressell, adapted by Howard Brenton - a play with music from pre-World War One and original composition by Janine Fearon. There will be 5 performances: 20th & 21st January, 7.30pm, Wortley Hall
28th Jan, 7.30pm, The Hub at Kirkburton
3rd and 4th February, 7.30pm The Venue in Stocksbridge
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists was written in the early 1900s and follows a group of builders, painters and decorators as they struggle to make ends meet. They live in a world where poverty is always just around the corner, with no welfare state, no NHS and very few employment rights. We see the ups and downs of ordinary working people in a time when unemployment was high and wages were low. Doom and gloom, sometimes… but humor and humanity, often.
The production has been commissioned to commemorate the anniversary of Wortley Hall as a place for working people to enjoy leisure activities (http://www.wortleyhall.org.uk/).
Directed by Danielle Trigg with desiign by Sarah Lewis, professionals in their field, we feel this play is a fitting end to the Wortley Hall Remembered programme that has been running throughout the past year. "The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" was first performed here in 1954 so we are honoured to bring it back to Wortley Hall as a fitting end to the season!
RECENT PRODUCTIONS
HERE BE DRAGONS STOCKSBRIDGE, THE MUSICAL
*Stop Press* Second chance to see Here Be Dragons in January/February 2011. See NEWS page for details
By popular request and to share our work more widely with other working communities, Steel Valley Beacon Arts (SVBA) is proud to announce three further performances of Here Be Dragons: Stocksbridge, the Musical. Many people have indicated their regret at missing the first run and others have said they want to see it again! Here’s your chance.
Here be Dragons is a fantastic new musical based around real life events and people living from the time of Samuel Fox in Stocksbridge to after the Second World War. The musical starts in 1842, the year Sam Fox came to Stocksbridge with plans for a wire-drawing factory. The story follows his life, the creation of Paragon umbrellas and the huge legacy he left. There is a running theme throughout of the “dragon”, representing the flaming furnace of the steelworks and the power of our community.
Ideas for Here be Dragons, came about from initial workshops led by Ian Macmillan and Luke Carver-Goss, where community members began to write the music and songs. With the help of Ian Enters leading the research and writing, SVBA members then proceeded to write the full script and lyrics, taking true accounts and fitting them into this must-see story of our valley. Other members formed a music composition group and have created twenty four original songs with the help of Peter Fearnley, Musical Director. Also included in the play is a scene based around the creation of the local carol tune “Tyre Mill”, entitled after the workshop at the works where its creator worked, and Hail Smiling Morn – traditionally sung at Bolsterstone before the Whitsuntide walks.
With direction from Ian Enters and Kirsty Surgey, a cast of around 50 ranging from young to old, original music and professional design by Sarah Lewis, you don’t want to miss this musical extravaganza from Steel Valley Beacon Arts. If you are a newcomer into Stocksbridge you will learn more about the area into which you have moved.One person who has lived here all her life commented after the show.“I have lived here all my life but I have learned things about Stocksbridge tonight that I didn’t know.”
We are delighted to be performing at Wortley Hall on Saturday 29th January at 7.00pm, back at The Venue, Stocksbridge, on Thursday 3rd February at 7.30pm and at The Hub, Kirkburton for our final performance this time around on Saturday 5th February 2011 at 7.00pm.
Note: Performance dates for the November run were: Thursday, 25th November 2010 at 7.30pm, Friday, 26th November 2010 at 7.30pm, and Saturday, 27th November at 2.30pm (matinee) and 7.30pm
The Dragon of Wantley Opera. Chilmark Opera from outside Salisbury will be bringing home to South Yorkshire their production of F.N.Lampe's early 18th century opera - one of the first written in English and a huge success in London at the time. The seventeenth century ballad telling the story of the battle between the Earl of Wharncliffe and More of More Hall on behalf of the people of the area predates the opera by a few years. The whole story is caught up in myth - the Dragon is the Earl with his seat at Wortley, of course. The opera is great fun with five young professional soloists, an amateur chorus of twelve and an orchestra of ten fine instrumentalists - a mix of professionals and amateurs. Steel Valley Beacon Arts members will act as hosts for this event and Ian McMillan, Barnsley Bard and presenter of The Verb on Radio 4 will introduce the opera for us.
During January and February 2010, supported by Steel Valley and Upper Don Project, we will be arranging guided walks accompanied by a professional artist and a professional writer to Dragon's Den in Wharncliffe Side and the Dragon of Wantley Sculpture in Wantley Woods by Bitholmes. We will also visit Wortley Hall. There will be follow-up workshops to help us create an exhibition for The Venue when Chilmark brings the opera to us.
Performances at The Venue, Stocksbridge on 6th March at 7.30pm and 7th March matinee at 2.30 pm.
Caucasian Chalk Circle
Written by Bertolt Brecht, translated by James and Tania Stern with W.H Auden.
A selfless servant girl, Grusha, risks everything for an infant abandoned in war, whilst his mother (the wife of the Governor) flees from civil uprising.
To save the child, Grusha must endure confrontations and inhuman treatment. She is threatened by mercenary soldiers and a society conditioned by greed. Only the righteous corruption of an ordinary man surprisingly translated to judge can give her, the helpless child, and society, a chance of redemption.
This play is peopled by a wonderful array of amusing and dynamic characters. Written in the 1940’s, it still carries powerful meaning for today. In fact, this production introduces our own prologue, reflecting issues relevant to our valley today and our futures together.
Sponsored by:
South Yorkshire Community Foundation Grass Roots Fund and the
CommunityBridge Shop.
PHOTOS FROM REHEARSALS
With many thanks to Tim Fearon for the photos and permission to reproduce them here. ____________________________
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