Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards

Subject: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 07:22 AM

Ted Edwards has written a musical based on the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, Manchester, UK.

This year sees the 190th anniversary of the atrocity on Sunday August 16th.

A radio adaptation will be broadcast on Oldham Community Radio 99.7fm, also available online, on Saturday August 15th at 19.00, and again on Sunday 16th at 17.00 (to be confirmed) and 22.00 (confirmed). We do not have a 'listen again' facility online yet because of PRS issues, so you can only listen at the above times - GMT +1 (British Summertime).

Those taking part are:
John Howarth
Gary and Vera Aspey
Peter and Barbara Snape
Roy Clinging
Geoff Higginbottom
Michelle Holding
Ali O'Brien
Bernard Cromarty
Sid and Lizzie Calderbank
Jan and John Cartain
Ged Todd
Steve Chatterley
Crowd sounds have been 'provided' by those attending the Uppermill Museum concerts at Saddleworth Festival and the audience at Stewart Lever's recent charity concert at Lymm Folk Club!

Ted had hoped to persuade a theatre company to take on this musical, but despite sending information and stamped addressed envelopes to fifty theatres, has had no response at all. How hard would it have been for them to write 'no thanks' on a compliment slip and post it to him? Okay, they are busy, but that was two years ago!

We're hoping this broadcast will show them what they are missing!

Everyone taking part has given freely of their valuable time, and we are very grateful for this. We're also grateful to Dave McGealy, the Station Manager at Oldham Community Radio, for giving us the air time.

Dave has also organised a re-enactment of the march, which will take place on Sunday 16th. More details on the Oldham Community Radio website.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 08:23 AM

Hi Bernard

Sounds like an interesting show, did you contact Mikron Theatre based at the Mechanics Institute, Peel Street, Marsden, West Yorks, they normally write their own material but perhaps would consider this, it is a subject that they would normally jump at the chance of covering. Please pass on my regards to ted when you see him next.

Thanks

Nick

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: nutty
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 08:24 AM

Any chance of this being released as a CD Bernard?

Knowing Ted's previous work, yhere's bound to be some cracking songs in there somewhere.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 11:33 AM

I'll be seeing Ted on Wednesday to take him to Songs in the Snug at the Saracen's Head, Warburton. I'll give him your best wishes, Nick!

It's quite possible it will be released on CD... we didn't have a production budget, so some people are playing two characters... one on either side! It shouldn't be too confusing, because they never 'appear' in the same scene together, and Ted's dialogue is compelling enough to take your mind off it!

For example, Roy Clinging plays the part of Arthur O'Neill, 'Union Rep', and also James Norris, 'Magistrate and Tory'...! John Cartain plays Hugh Birley, Mill Owner, and also one of his own spinners!

See if you can spot where we'd run out of blokes, and I dropped two women's voices down a tone for a couple of lines...

As you've already guessed, it was a truly great script to work with, and there are a few 'typically Ted' songs to join in with!

One of the many highlights is 'Rickets!', sung by Vera Aspey. It was scripted to be sung by a group of children, but we weren't able to organise that, so I asked Vera to do it rather than leave it out... it's a real 'ear-worm'!!

"Rickets! Lovely Rickets! An enemy that's almost like a friend!"

Gary Aspey is singing the Radical's Song 'The Dignity of Labour', but my personal favourite is John Howarth's portrayal of 'Dad'. Sid Calderbank and daughter Lizzie play a pair of thieves stealing coal... "Thievin', thievin', doin' the business and leavin'!"... another cracker!

The whole thing was recorded in my front room with a pair of AKG C1000 microphones and a Marantz PMD610 digital recorder. As we couldn't get everyone together to record, it was done in chunks and knitted together afterwards. I've added ambience and sound effects to make it more convincing, but it remains to be seen whether everyone else thinks I've done justice to Ted's script - and the time everyone has put in.

From that point of view I feel a little reluctant to issue it on CD - it's fine for a couple of airings on radio, but will it stand closer scrutiny... I'm not so sure. Ted will have the final say on that, and he hasn't heard it yet.

Please tune in or listen on line and let me know what you think.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Noreen
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 03:24 PM

Would love to hear it, Bernard, but will be away at the weekend.

If there's any other way of hearing it, do let us know.

And love to Ted too!

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 03:38 PM

I'll make a note to try and listen to this. My great, great, great grandfather received the princely sum of £5 to compensate for the sabre wounds he received to his hands and head. How he managed to walk back from St Peters Fields to Bullock Smithy after the event I'm never likely to find out.
Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 08:31 AM

Now that's a fascinating story! I suppose they were just that bit hardier in those days... couldn't hop on a bus or hail a taxi... do you know if he was involved with the Blanket March?

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 08:52 AM

Do Joe Nadin or William Hulton (imagine the sound of spitting) put in an appearance?

It would probably be more apt if they stood lurking in the wings - just like in 1819.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 10:09 AM

William Hulton (played by Ged Todd of Swinton Folk Club) is quite a prominent character. Joe Nadin 'appears' briefly in Act 6 Scene 2, 'Mr. Buxton's Upper Room, 6 Mount Street'.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 11:00 AM

Thanks Bernard.

Maybe Ged should eat a few children first to help him get into character!

What was it Hulton call the massacre? "the proudest day in my life"

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 02:28 PM

Hi Bernard
I've no idea whether he was involved with the Blanketeers, I've still to finish researching him. I don't know if there are any sources of names for such organisations and the main centre for Peterloo research has been closed for the past couple of years. What I do know was that he started off as a cotton printer and ended up as a sawyer but still in Bullock Smithy (Hazel Grove for those who don't know.)
Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 09:33 AM

I have told the tale here before but in case anyone is interested, the site of the Peterloo Masacre was marked with what should have been a lasting memorial, the Free Trade Hall. It still makes my blood boil to think that Manchesters so-called labour council have sold this magnificent institution to be used as a facade for an hotel where normal working people would be hard pushed to spend a night! I saw a seller of the big issue being moved away from the hotel steps by an overly zelous doorman. I think he regretted his actions after I had given him chapter and verse on the history of the area for 10 minutes:-)

I will be visiting a well known Swinton ex-patriot in Scotland that weekend but, provided we have not had that much Scottish water we cannot work t'interweb, we may get chance to have a listen. If not I will be one of the first in the queue for the CD. Well, I probably will even if we DO get to listen!

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 09:50 AM

Here's a pretty good interactive map of the area.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 12:19 PM

Geoff Higginbottom was doing some research, and was surprised that he couldn't find anything specifically marking 'St. Peter's Field' on or around the Free Trade Hall... until he was doing something else and found a little blue plaque in a doorway down a back alley. So the Free Trade Hall (or what's left of it) isn't quite on the site, it would seem, but close by.

I can't just recall where he said the plaque is to be seen, but I'll find out!

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 12:41 PM

Bernard - if you follow the link, above, the blue plaque is marked on the map (look for the blue dot).

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 12:47 PM

Apparently, it's now a red plaque - with the wording changed from the original. See the before and after photos.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Aug 09 - 05:17 AM

Thanks for that! I must go and look at it for real. The 'now and then' maps are excellent.

Interesting that they decided to change the colour, but pathetic that they still haven't come up with a more fitting memorial.

In ten years it will be the bi-centenary. Maybe we should join the campaign to get something done...

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Aug 09 - 06:03 AM

I'm somewhat surprised, not to say dismayed, at the death toll of 11 as stated on the new plaque. My understanding has always been that there were at least 15 killed on the day, plus an unknown number who died later of their injuries (they were too afraid of arrest to seek medical help).

  Thomas AshworthManchestersabred and trampled 
  John Ashton                 Oldham                 sabred and trampled 
  Thomas Buckley                 Chadderton         sabred and trampled 
  James Crompton                 Barton                 trampled 
  William Fildes                 Manchester         trampled 
  Mary Heys                 Manchester         trampled 
  Sarah Jones                 Manchester         not recorded 
  John Lees                 Oldham                 sabred 
  Arthur O'Neill                 Manchester         trampled 
  Martha Partington Manchester trampled 
  John Rhodes       Hopwood    not recorded 
  Joseph AshworthManchester         shot 
  William Bradshaw         Bury                 not recorded 
  William Dawson                 Saddleworth         sabred and trampled 
  Edmund Dawson                 Saddleworth         sabred 
  

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Aug 09 - 06:08 AM

Sorry, made a mess of that last one.

  NAME              ABODE       CAUSE OF DEATH
  
  Thomas Ashworth   Manchester  sabred and trampled 
  John Ashton       Oldham      sabred and trampled 
  Thomas Buckley    Chadderton  sabred and trampled 
  James Crompton    Barton      trampled 
  William Fildes    Manchester  trampled 
  Mary Heys         Manchester  trampled 
  Sarah Jones       Manchester  not recorded 
  John Lees         Oldham      sabred 
  Arthur O'Neill    Manchester  trampled 
  Martha Partington Manchester  trampled 
  John Rhodes       Hopwood     not recorded 
  Joseph Ashworth   Manchester  shot 
  William Bradshaw  Bury        not recorded 
  William Dawson    Saddleworth sabred and trampled 
  Edmund Dawson     Saddleworth sabred 
  

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Aug 09 - 08:00 AM

If you look at the interactive map you will see that the Free Trade Hall is indeed on the site but the bigger issue (pun intended considering my earlier tale!) is that it has now been sold by the council to the Radison Hotel Group to make money! It was never admitted that the Hall was a memorial to the people and it was built, ostensibly, to mark the introduction of the Free Trade Act which replaced the Corn Laws. It is generaly known however that it was built to salve the conscience of those involved. Apart from William Hulton of course, who didn't have one! Fortunately his peers did see the error of his ways and although he never understood why, the Petrloo massacre did mark the end of his political career.

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Aug 09 - 09:02 AM

Justice has been done! The actual red plaque gives 15 deaths.

It's a continuing annoyance to me that Hulton lived to a ripe old age.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: John J
Date: 13 Aug 09 - 11:01 AM

Is anyone up for meeting the march on Sunday?

I'm unable to walk any distance at the moment but I'm intending cycling to St Peters Fields, Manchester from Altrincham in good time to meet the throng.

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: John J
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 04:54 AM

I'll be leaving the Pelican Inn, Timperley at 10.45am on Sunday morning and cycling directly to St Peters Fields - hopefully collecting other cyclists en-route.

Anyone who would like to join me is most welcome.

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 05:20 AM

Well done John.

There's a list of Cheshire casualties online (including a William Tomlinson of Bullocky Smithy, who I am guessing is Guest Ray's ancestor).

I'll be coming from t'other direction and the distance is too far for mi poor old legs to pedal, but I hope to be there to greet the incomers.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 06:08 AM

Could anyone who is intending to be there please email [e-mail] so that Dave McGealy has a clear idea of numbers to make sure the legal side is sorted?

Geoff Higginbottom is doing his Peterloo show at the Angel on Sunday evening. I think it is organised by Martin Gittins, and it's ticket only costing a fiver. I don't have any other details to hand, but it was in our Sounds of Folk diary dates on Monday, repeated tonight (Friday) at 7.00pm. 99.7fm or online, as above.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 08:39 AM

Wonder what the police would do if there were 60,000 of us.......

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 09:16 AM

Panic!

Which, incidentally, is the song from the musical sung by Hulton and co...!
Panic, panic, panic now,
But never ever realise,
That panic is the cause of all our ills.
Panic, panic, panic now,
And don't forget to mobilize,
Forgetting, in your fear, that panic kills.
And in your panic you will see,
That your inhibitions flee,
And your basic situation will be weak.
But when panic is in view,
All the logic will go too,
And your hold on reality is bleak.
...and so on!

So... where do we get the other 59,993 (approx!) from, then?

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 10:06 AM

If City lose on Saturday there'll be no shortage of disgruntled individuals.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 10:46 AM

link to Peterloo song thread

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 11:53 AM

Apologies...

Somehow I omitted Stanley Accrington's name from the list of credits in the opening post. Amongst other 'bit parts' he plays the Reverend Hay!

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 01:28 PM

Got it in one Sminky!

Geoff Higginbottom eh? - so many names from the past. Not seen Geoff for nigh on 30 years. Is he still working in the bank in Levenshulme or has he gone on to greater things? Mind you, I've not seen Stanley Accrington since he entered the Royal Exchange song competition using his real name. Whatever happened to Geoff Walt? Not seen him since he emigrated to Bude.
Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 05:16 PM

No, Geoff has been a full time musician for a long time now... and appears occasionally on Coronation Street.

What's that? Stanley isn't his real name? Well, I would never have guessed!! ;o)

Not long to go now...

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 04:11 AM

Coronation Street? - he's not doing that well then! Come to think of it, I remember Ken Thomson, a couple of years ago, saying that they played together regularly. Geoff's biggest fan used to be his dad.

Of course Stanley isn't his real name - its Alexander isn't it?
Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 02:23 PM

Anyone tuned in?

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Yvonne
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 03:14 PM

Yes I tuned in,Bernard.

Some cracking songs as to be expected from Ted. Unfortunately, there is a very annoying background buzz which prevented me hearing the dialogue clearly.Perhaps something on my PC?

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Yvonne
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 03:24 PM

Second half is much clearer, Bernard.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 04:01 PM

Some great new songs there from Ted. Well done all.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 04:46 PM

It sounded fine here, so maybe it was a problem on your connection? I had my PC connected to my Home Cinema system, so I would have heard a background buzz only too clearly!! ;o)

Unfortunately, Virgin Media had an 'outage' about ten minutes into part two, which also affected cable TV, so I had to try to listen on a very crackly FM radio... reception for OCR is poor round here.

Okay, I don't really need to listen to the broadcast because I've got the original recordings on this very PC, but I do like to monitor recorded broadcasts in case something goes awry! Paranoia some may call it!

Any road up, there's another broadcast at 10pm tomorrow (Sunday)!

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 04:48 PM

Sorry, Matthew, not ignoring you! Thanks for your kind words, and I'm sure you've already emailed Ted!!

I'll pass on your comments to everyone else, though most of them drop in here from time to time.

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: John J
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 05:13 PM

I've been out - only just got home so I've reserved the PC for the 22:00 BST (21:00 GMT) Sunday broadcast.

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: GUEST,Callingbird
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 06:52 AM

There were indeed some good songs.

Have emailed Ted to congratulate him and to enquire about his next project!

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 12:30 PM

Erm... he's planning flying lessons in a microlite. No, really! Salford Advertiser, August 13th on page 3. PM your email address to me, and I'll send you a scan of the page!!

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Anglo
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 12:38 PM

Well, here across the pond I can't get anything out of the live feed link. It just opens a QuickTime window, which will play nothing. Perhaps it's got something to do with me being on a Mac? But I'm sad to have to miss this.

John (B.A. Manchester, in New York State).

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 01:43 PM

Well, it opens 'listen.m3u' which is a Windows Media Player playlist file. I'm sure there must be a way of opening it on a Mac...

It seems you can download Windows Media Player for Mac here, so maybe that will fix it?

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 02:58 PM

Two hours to go before tonight's broadcast...

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: John J
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 05:03 PM

Any minute now!

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 06:00 PM

We're halfway through! Part two after the 11.00 news! I've managed to rig an aerial, so I'm listening off air tonight - my broadband went down last night about ten minutes into part two... still, to give Virgin Media their due, they've agreed to knock a tenner off my next bill! There was an 'outage' in my area, which also affected cable TV...

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: John J
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 06:24 PM

Listening online in South Manchester via Virgin, no probs tonight.

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 06:34 PM

It's really weird listening to it on t'wireless... considering it was all recorded and edited here!

Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 06:34 PM

50!