Chester Memories: War memories needed for new musical play

By Chester Chronicle on Oct 5, 09 09:35 AM in 1900-1999

PEOPLE with memories of the Second World War are invited to share their thoughts with Chester's leading professional theatre company.

Theatre in the Quarter invites anyone who lived in Chester or Cheshire at the time to visit St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Parkgate Road, on Saturday October 3 from 11am-1pm and 2.30-4.30pm.

Playwright Helen Newall is collecting memories of living through the war, particularly at Christmas, for the company's latest production Home for Christmas.

Helen wrote the script for the company's 2008 sell-out show Silent Night, set during the First World War, which toured Chester and Cheshire.

On that occasion Helen had to use mainly second-hand information, so she is particularly excited to be able to write from living memory.

She said: "We held one event in Blacon and the response was terrific. The stories were fantastic; the things they ate, the clothes they wore, the way they entertained themselves, the evacuees from Liverpool and the soldiers from America."

Artistic director Matt Baker this week received confirmation of funding for the home-grown musical play from Arts Council England (ACE), along with a partnership with Chester Literature Festival.

He said: "Last year's tour enabled so many people around Chester to see some fresh and exciting theatre and the reviews were wonderful. We are building on that success with links with more communities in Cheshire and beyond." and particularly the Literature Festival who are commissioning the writing of the piece and facilitating the story collecting. This makes it so real. So special for all ages."

Home for Christmas will tour Chester and Cheshire throughout December.

As well as professional actors there will be a community choir and schoolchildren will be involved with certain productions.

For more information email mattbakermusic@yahoo.co.uk.

The picture shows a scene from Theatre in the Quarter's 2008 production Silent Night.

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