Alex Hargreaves, a tall white man with short hair and a ginger moustache wearing a brown suit; and Dan Loops, a brown man with long locs and a short beard wearing a blue jacket and green waistcoat stare down the camera against a wood panelled workshop backdrop as William Farren and Robert Moore in Shirley: An Awakening. Photo credit Karol Wyszynski.
This month, on the blog, we talk about how after a hard fight our production of Shirley: An Awakening is confirmed for next Summer. And why our new Craftivism! project celebrates those who struggle and fight and the beauty their change has made to the world.
So, the hot-off-the-printing-press news first, our production Shirley: An Awakening!
Thanks to the support of the amazing team at Leeds Museums and funding from Arts Council England, is going ahead next Summer! We could not be more thrilled to be able to present this second collaboration with Leeds Industrial Museum, inspired by Charlotte Bronte’s story of the Luddite rebellion.
This is a work rooted in the stories of generations of people who have fought for their rights.
People who have looked power in the face and not been cowed.
And this is potentially the work we ourselves have strove the hardest for. Has faced the most knocks to arrive at this moment. But we knew we were never going to give up telling this story, when Shirley: An Awakening has so much to still teach us today. That even if the fight feels like the odds are stacked against you, not fighting at all is the worse path to take. So we know every second of working for this will be worth it.
Our second big announcement this week is our upcoming Craftivism! Project.
Over the next few months, we’re going to be working with communities across West Yorkshire on four textile pieces in response to the themes of Shirley: An Awakening and our current exhibition in collaboration with the wonderful volunteers and team at Leeds Industrial Museum, Ludd in the Machine.
Creatively exploring the role that people have played in over 200 years of workers’ rights, these four pieces are being made by five great textile artists in collaboration with budding community crafters are going to form part of the set for Shirley: An Awakening as a huge celebration of, and platform for, the immense creativity, solidarity and fight which are baked deep into our communities.
If you’re interested in taking part in one of these Craftivism! Groups, you can head over to the sign up form! Places are limited and we advise booking through this form to avoid disappointment.
Also, if you want access to the pre-sale for Shirley: An Awakening, and you’re not already signed up to our newsletter, make sure you sign up before the end of November to gain access to pre-sale tickets!
Beth Recommends:
A Watch: As no better metaphor for why we fight and the hope it brings, this from CNN about Keisha Lance Bottoms being elected Governor of Georgia, when her great-great-grandmother Betsy Peek was a slave in the state, and becoming the first black woman elected to the position of Governor in US history.
A Listen: I’m directing Dracula at the moment, with a brilliant bunch of BA Acting students at Leeds Conservatoire. This is the playlist I’m using in the room and there’s no thrill like the seal of approval from young people of your music taste. This has got it 🙌
A Read: Was recently compelled to pour myself back into a re-read of Rebecca. Daphne Du Maurier’s masterpiece was as heady, terrifying and intoxicating as ever.
An Event: Our lovely pal Miles Kinsley is in and lovely pal Beck Gadsby has directed this touring production of A Christmas Carol. I’m a tough sell as a Muppets purest, but this was a wee festive delight.
Seán recommends:
A Watch: We’re deep into autumn now, which means that I am mostly spending my evenings watching the new series of Gone Fishing, running out of new episodes, and embarking on my annual binge rewatch of the previous eight series 🍂
A Listen: Most of the time, live albums are rubbish. Occasionally, they’re HUGE! Florence and the Machine’s Everybody Scream Live you say? Yes, please.
A Read: Every. Single. Friday. I genuinely get a little bit excited for what Owen Cutts is going to spin and analyse on Old Music Fridays. Now he’s got a book out, Have You Ever Heard Old Music? 52 Essential Records You Need in Your Life. Shut Up!
An Event: I had a rare 15 minutes to kill in Sheffield City Centre a couple of weeks back, and used it to have an early look around Good Morning: A Day in Art by Chantal Joffe & Ishbel Myerscough. It’s open until January at The Millenium Gallery in Sheffield and is well worth a visit.