A new drama based on the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs plays in Marsden next week.
For one of the cast, Elizabeth Eves, it will be something of a homecoming.
For Elizabeth, who is based in Newark, spent three years with Marsden-based Mikron Theatre Company.
This new show, with a company called Townsend Productions, will bring her back to the Colne Valley and Marsden Mechanics next weekend.
The show is called We Will be Free and follows an earlier sold-out national tour with a critically acclaimed run of an adaptation of Robert Tressell’s classic story, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.
Townsend Productions is a small collaboration of artists that have come together to create touring theatre for audiences who are not within easy reach of theatre centres. Those artists include Finetime Fontayne, an actor and director whose skills in both roles have been seen in the region with many venues and companies for many years.
This new piece from the company is set in 1834 and follows the true story of George and Betsy Loveless.
George was a Methodist preacher and the leader of the six Dorsetshire farm labourers who were tried, convicted and sentenced to transportation for swearing a secret oath and forming a union to fight against a succession of wage cuts inflicted by the local landowner.
Townsend Productions premieres this latest production We Will Be Free, at Marsden Mechanics on September 14.
The company says it will tell the story using the theatrical style developed through its production of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.
It will use Andy Vine's powerful political cartoons and animation; puppetry and musical arrangements by folk singer and squeezebox player John Kirkpatrick of the songs and rallying hymns of the Dorset labouring classes that resound down the years.
During his distinguished career John has worked with artists such as Roy Bailey, John Tams, Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy and Steeleye Span.
We Will Be Free’s cast features Elizabeth alongside actor Neil Gore. Elizabeth was recently nominated for acting excellence by The Stage, Edinburgh 2013.
John Kirkpatrick is also a regular session musician and has played on numerous film sound tracks most recently the Oscar nominated Pirates – Adventures with Scientists, as well as in The Royal National Theatre production of Lark Rise To Candleford.
The production is directed by Louise Townsend and Richard Stone, with the creative team including designs by Jo Barber, cartoons by Andy Vine and lighting by Brian O’Carroll.
Tickets from the box office on 01484 844587 or online at www.marsdenmechanics.co.uk
