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10 Aug 09 - 07:22 AM (#2696842) Subject: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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. |
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10 Aug 09 - 08:23 AM (#2696880) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Raggytash 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 |
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10 Aug 09 - 08:24 AM (#2696883) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: nutty 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. |
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10 Aug 09 - 11:33 AM (#2697002) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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. |
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10 Aug 09 - 03:24 PM (#2697118) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Noreen 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! |
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10 Aug 09 - 03:38 PM (#2697134) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST,Ray 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 |
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11 Aug 09 - 08:31 AM (#2697636) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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? |
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11 Aug 09 - 08:52 AM (#2697651) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky 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. |
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11 Aug 09 - 10:09 AM (#2697687) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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'. |
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11 Aug 09 - 11:00 AM (#2697727) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky 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" |
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11 Aug 09 - 02:28 PM (#2697819) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST,Ray 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 |
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12 Aug 09 - 09:33 AM (#2698523) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Dave the Gnome 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 |
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12 Aug 09 - 09:50 AM (#2698537) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky Here's a pretty good interactive map of the area. |
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12 Aug 09 - 12:19 PM (#2698616) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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! |
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12 Aug 09 - 12:41 PM (#2698634) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky Bernard - if you follow the link, above, the blue plaque is marked on the map (look for the blue dot). |
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12 Aug 09 - 12:47 PM (#2698640) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky Apparently, it's now a red plaque - with the wording changed from the original. See the before and after photos. |
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13 Aug 09 - 05:17 AM (#2699240) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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... |
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13 Aug 09 - 06:03 AM (#2699265) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky 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).
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13 Aug 09 - 06:08 AM (#2699270) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky Sorry, made a mess of that last one.
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13 Aug 09 - 08:00 AM (#2699321) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Dave the Gnome 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 |
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13 Aug 09 - 09:02 AM (#2699357) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky 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. |
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13 Aug 09 - 11:01 AM (#2699427) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: John J 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 |
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14 Aug 09 - 04:54 AM (#2700016) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: John J 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 |
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14 Aug 09 - 05:20 AM (#2700034) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky 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. |
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14 Aug 09 - 06:08 AM (#2700060) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard Could anyone who is intending to be there please email studio@oldhamcommunityradio.com 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. |
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14 Aug 09 - 08:39 AM (#2700129) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky Wonder what the police would do if there were 60,000 of us....... |
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14 Aug 09 - 09:16 AM (#2700161) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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? |
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14 Aug 09 - 10:06 AM (#2700185) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST, Sminky If City lose on Saturday there'll be no shortage of disgruntled individuals. |
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14 Aug 09 - 10:46 AM (#2700208) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Desert Dancer link to Peterloo song thread |
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14 Aug 09 - 11:53 AM (#2700241) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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! |
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14 Aug 09 - 01:28 PM (#2700287) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST,Ray 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 |
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14 Aug 09 - 05:16 PM (#2700444) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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... |
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15 Aug 09 - 04:11 AM (#2700762) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST,Ray 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 |
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15 Aug 09 - 02:23 PM (#2701044) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard Anyone tuned in? |
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15 Aug 09 - 03:14 PM (#2701089) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Yvonne 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? |
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15 Aug 09 - 03:24 PM (#2701099) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Yvonne Second half is much clearer, Bernard. |
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15 Aug 09 - 04:01 PM (#2701130) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Matthew Edwards Some great new songs there from Ted. Well done all. Matthew |
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15 Aug 09 - 04:46 PM (#2701163) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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)! |
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15 Aug 09 - 04:48 PM (#2701165) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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. |
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15 Aug 09 - 05:13 PM (#2701193) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: John J 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 |
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16 Aug 09 - 06:52 AM (#2701477) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST,Callingbird There were indeed some good songs. Have emailed Ted to congratulate him and to enquire about his next project! |
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16 Aug 09 - 12:30 PM (#2701619) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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!! |
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16 Aug 09 - 12:38 PM (#2701625) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Anglo 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). |
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16 Aug 09 - 01:43 PM (#2701678) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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? |
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16 Aug 09 - 02:58 PM (#2701737) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard Two hours to go before tonight's broadcast... |
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16 Aug 09 - 05:03 PM (#2701818) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: John J Any minute now! JJ |
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16 Aug 09 - 06:00 PM (#2701841) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 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... |
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16 Aug 09 - 06:24 PM (#2701860) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: John J Listening online in South Manchester via Virgin, no probs tonight. JJ |
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16 Aug 09 - 06:34 PM (#2701863) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard It's really weird listening to it on t'wireless... considering it was all recorded and edited here! |
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16 Aug 09 - 06:34 PM (#2701864) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard 50! |
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16 Aug 09 - 07:03 PM (#2701876) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: nutty Just finished listening, A really enjoyable programme which would certainly make a superb theatrical production. I hope it will one day make an appearance at Folk Festivals, It certainly deserves to. Well done to all involved. |
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16 Aug 09 - 07:13 PM (#2701880) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard Thanks! I'll pass on your comments to all concerned! |
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16 Aug 09 - 07:37 PM (#2701890) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: John J What Nutty said. JJ |
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16 Aug 09 - 07:48 PM (#2701899) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard Cheers! |
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17 Aug 09 - 12:03 PM (#2702272) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST,Ray On a Mac? - Worked fine for me, simply clicked on the link and it opened in iTunes. Ray |
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17 Aug 09 - 12:13 PM (#2702281) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: Bernard That's what I'd have thought, though some apple-ications may change the defaults, just as on a PC... b****y computers!! |
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18 Aug 09 - 08:27 AM (#2703018) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST I got back from my travels in time to catch the Sunday night broadcast and it must have been good 'cus I managed to stay awake to the end. Well done to Ted, and I look forward to hearing him do some of the songs again next Wednesday at the Saracen's Head. I've had Rickets going through my brain (the song - not the infection) since Sunday night. Well done to the cast too. Its amazing what you can get away with on t'wireless - I'm sure one or two of them are a little older than the characters they were portraying! Fred says that the Stockport Plaza are 'VERY KEEN' to put the show on (so long as it costs them nothing) and are only waiting for someone from Ted's side to get things moving. So it could be the start of a world tour. |
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18 Aug 09 - 08:28 AM (#2703019) Subject: RE: Review: Peterloo Musical - Ted Edwards From: GUEST,AlanG Sorry that was me - seem to have lost my cookie! Not just my marbles! |
