‘Grinning as if it were all an August Bank Holiday lark’
these words from Philip Larkin’s poem ‘MCMXIV’ were the inspiration behind the latest offering from one of our favourite theatre companies Northern Broadsides at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Written by Deborah McAndrew especially for the start of the 100 years commemorations of the beginning of WW1. It has all the humour, pathos and energy of other Northern Broadsides productions. I’m always amazed at the talent of the performers, acting, singing, dancing and playing musical instruments as well as moving their own props when necessary – which in this productions included the building up and breaking down of a Rushcart.
these words from Philip Larkin’s poem ‘MCMXIV’ were the inspiration behind the latest offering from one of our favourite theatre companies Northern Broadsides at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Written by Deborah McAndrew especially for the start of the 100 years commemorations of the beginning of WW1. It has all the humour, pathos and energy of other Northern Broadsides productions. I’m always amazed at the talent of the performers, acting, singing, dancing and playing musical instruments as well as moving their own props when necessary – which in this productions included the building up and breaking down of a Rushcart.
It's Wakes Week August 1914, the cotton mills of East Lancashire are closed and the Greenmill Rushcart lads are rehearsing for the Bank
Holiday Rushbearing Festival. Changes are
in the air, not many young men are left to perform in this tradtional ceremony as who wants to stay in Greenmill
on a Bank Holiday when the delights of Blackpool are on offer? The old stalwarts like the Squire and Bagman
are getting too old and heaven forbid women should be allowed to participate. Looming on the horizon though is an even greater
challenge to tradition and three of the young Rushcart lads are eager to enlist to escape the mill, to seek new
horizons and to do their bit for their county and country in the coming conflict that surely will be over by
Christmas. Who goes and who will return to
Greenmill? Whatever the outcome life will never be the same again.
We cried with laughter in the first part – we applauded the performance
of the Denshaw Morris Dance, the building up and the taking down (in the
interval) of the Rushcart, we applauded the women musicians who played on
whilst this took place, we tapped our feet at the wedding dance and cried again
as we learned the fate of the lads.
At the end the audience rose to their feet to say thank you
for such a wonderful performance. If this
play comes near you – do go and see it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Link to trailer on YouTube
Link to trailer on YouTube
