Tag: drama

by Tricia Beddow

Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and a little bit of history

My knowledge of Shakespeare is limited. I studied Macbeth at school but that’s about it.

Apart from there being a storm at some point, I had no preconceived ideas about The Tempest. My expectations were high though, the two previous plays I’d been to at North West Theatre Arts Company (NWTAC) were excellent. I wasn’t disappointed.Never mind the howling wind, the amount of dialogue blew me away. There were some surprises along the way that kept the audience on its toes, as well as some very funny parts. The Arctic island really set the scene, the costumes were just right and the make-up was brilliant.

I had to admire the time and effort needed to translate the script into something that someone as dumb as me could understand.  It worked because these young talented actors gave their characters life, had great confidence and were thoroughly convincing.

The theatre is one mile from my house. One mile!  I have to pinch myself for not finding out about it sooner and they’ve been here for three years.As a company they’ve been around a while longer. I know this because I met Prab Singh (pictured), director and co-owner some months ago and he gave me some of the background.

“I started as a cast member at Abraham Moss Theatre and worked my way up to become the theatre manager. I loved it. Then the funding dried up so I asked if I could keep using the theatre in my own time alongside my job as an actor.

When the council closed the theatre down completely I teamed up with Mark Beaumont, who I’d met when we worked on The Witches of Eastwick, and we decided to set up our own company – quickly.

With no other space available, we held rehearsals in corridors, taking our shows, reviews and pantos on tour. The money from ticket sales went back into productions and, over time, we began to accumulate sets, props and costumes.

We were quite nomadic and it was hard.”

The route from being nomadic to landing in Moston took them from Abraham Moss, to a space at the Factory Youth Zone and then, of all places, to Harpurhey Baths.

“Our audience was loyal and our reputation grew. We had enquiries for hiring sets, props and costumes. If we didn’t have just what they wanted we had the ability to create, build or source it.”

When their time at the baths came to an abrupt end, they went in search of a new home; somewhere large enough to run classes, do rehearsals and put productions on all under one roof and it led them to 270A Lightbowne Road, Moston.

“It was big and empty. Like a blank canvass – just what Mark’s good at, visualising what can be done with a building space. I’ve been amazed at the level of interest and support. Local people turn up and just volunteer to help out.

It wasn’t part of the plan to start with but now we’re here in Moston we’d really like to stay.”

If the performances I’ve seen so far are anything to go by, I’d really like them to stay too.

… and if Shakespeare isn’t your thing, you might fancy their next project; ‘The Moviecals – Music from the Movies’. It promises to be a joyous evening of entertainment and I’m buzzing already. I’d book your seat early if I were you.

There’s more to NWTAC than meets the eye but that’s for another day. In the meantime click here for details of performances over the coming months. You can book on-line or call the box office on 0161 207 1617.

You can follow them on Facebook too and keep up to date with all that’s happening.

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by Tricia Beddow

TRENCH – A North West Theatre Arts Company Production

I’d never heard of North West Theatre Arts Company until a few weeks ago. Didn’t know a theatre even existed this close to home. I decided to see Trench, an original World War 1 musical. Written and directed by Prab Singh, it’s based on a story told by Prab’s wife’s Grandmother and on true accounts in letters and journals. It’s a love story and you know from the start how it’s going to end.When you go to a theatre, watch a performance and feel like you’re the only person in the audience it’s not because the performance is good – it’s because it’s VERY good. Trench is VERY good. There are several reasons why it makes you feel this way.

The set’s not elaborate. It doesn’t have to be but it is convincing. We’ve seen enough WW1 films to know what the trenches looked like, barbed wire and sandbags need no explanation. The production is ‘stripped back’ to basics and the imagery is enough for you to know that those are guns, tin hats and bandages. What you are left to concentrate on is the performance of the young actors playing the parts of soldiers, wives, girlfriends, children and friends.

You hear their words, listen to beautifully sung lyrics and feel their emotions.

In the back-ground a few realistic sound effects, clever lighting and the odd drift of smoke allows you to ‘sense’ the horrific reality of the battlefield scenes and the noisy atmosphere of the mill floor back home. The attention to detail is subtle and convincing.

This sensitivity in the production allows the performers to take full control of the stage. They grab your attention from the start and don’t let it go again until the finish. The only break from this is the interval when you look around and realise you’re not the only person there after all.

I take my chance to read through the programme while the lights are up. There’s a piece by Mark Beaumont (Production Designer) about how the army and Manchester Pals were formed, as well as photographs of the cast. I was struck by the fresh young faces and chilled to think that they would be similar in age to the soldiers, wives and girlfriends they were portraying. In WW1 an estimated 250,000 British soldiers were teenagers.

I buy a poppy every year. I’ve watched the remembrance service and laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph on TV countless times. Don’t think I’ve ever felt, really felt what it might have been like. Having no choice but go over the wall when the whistle blew or wait for that telegram or pick up the pieces and get on with life afterwards.

These young people made me cry. I was just glad the lights were back down…and I knew from the start how it was going to end!

by Tricia Beddow

Something’s going on in Failsworth

I’d hoped my local Tesco would be quiet on Saturday but the car park was rammed – how dare all these people shop when I want to!

There were droves of them – as in families with children. Children! Outside on a sunny Saturday! Milling about in all directions and curiously jolly, carrying bright balloons, multi coloured ice-creams and bags of stuff. And there was music in the distance.

“Something going on” I thought “and I’m missing it.”

Shopping plans on hold, I followed my nose around the corner to Lord Lane Playing Fields. Banners announced the event as ‘Failsworth Carnival’. It was only a quid to get in, so in I went. Can’t resist an ice-cream you see.

The ‘fields’ are quite big. There was a fun fair at the far end, an open space in the centre and scattered about were a mishmash of stalls, fast food vans, bouncy castles, a large stage and areas marked out with ticker tape.I wandered about amongst the crowd for a while. Felt like a wally on my own but once I had a ’99’ with strawberry goo in my hand I didn’t care.

There were singers and musicians on the stage, dancers rehearsing for a dance competition, keep fit ladies keeping fit, karate kids doing, wait for it, karate and not just one but several Carnival Queens. Carnival Queens aren’t something you see every day and they were just delightful.When I left about an hour later the lady at the gate said “Did you enjoy the parade?”

“Nope. Missed it.” She looked disappointed and I felt bad, like I’d let her down. “Come back again tomorrow.” She suggested. “There’s lots more going on.” So I did and there was.

Another ’99’ in hand and I settled myself by the stage on the grass. There was a Zumba display and routines by Diva Dance. Then  a group of youngsters performed Ed Sheeran tracks and hits from The Greatest Showman and Annie. The soloists were fabulous and one even sang her own composition. Such talent! Called Footlights if you want to find out more.  It was an absolute joy and all for the grand entrance fee of £1!Before I left I took another walk around the field and checked out displays by New Moston Scouts, Fostering Solutions, Love Food Hate Waste,  Failsworth Community Choir, Army Recruitment and Girlguiding (who are after volunteers), Blood Bikes and more.The start of the Bouncing Baby Competition was announced when I got to the gate but Tesco beckoned and I’d have ended up with no Sunday lunch. I’ll come back next year.