Street Barrow Theatre: The Siege of Troy

Subject: Street Barrow Theatre: The Siege of Troy
From: Will Fly
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 02:48 PM

My dear friend and one-time London band mate, Peter Charlton, was 80 recently, and we celebrated the event with a birthday bash at a hotel in West Ealing (London, UK).

As well as working for the BBC for many years - producing "Playaway" in particular, Pete performed jug band music with The Egbert Sousé All Stars in the early 1970s in London, and had a second life as a puppeteer. Pete did a conventional Punch & Judy act, but also did several less well-known pupper presentations - one of which was a version of a Pollock style "Penny plain, tuppence coloured" Victorian toy theatre play - but large-scale and on aon a barrow: "The Siege of Troy".

The highlight of the birthday get-together was Pete's inimitable performance of this, assisted by Keith Hill. We decided to video it as it was possibly the last time that he would do it - and the results are on YouTube if you'd care to watch it.

Peter Charlton: "The Siege of Troy"

This sort of presentation is rare these days, so I'm very pleased to have been able to film it - and enjoy it!

Subject: RE: Street Barrow Theatre: The Siege of Troy
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 04:00 PM

Thanks for posting that. I have just watched and much enjoyed it.

If my aging memory isn't misleading me, it was Peter wot ran the BBC Folk Club when I was going there for a few months in 1965. He may not remember me but please give him my regards.

Subject: RE: Street Barrow Theatre: The Siege of Troy
From: Will Fly
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 04:17 PM

He did indeed, Richard, and I certainly will. WhenI moved down to London from Lancaster (also Peter's home town) in '68, I ran the club - "Clanfolk" - for a bit, and Pete ran it again after me. A lovely man.