Spital Spectacular Arts Fair 2019
Conchies
A play performed by Certain Demographic
Saturday November 2nd
St Leonard's Church
Valley rd
Spital
Chesterfield
S41 0HE
Doors 7pm, starts 7.30pm
Tickets are £10.00 from spitalarts@gmail.com, Spital Arts Facebook page or by phoning 01246 220741
An introduction from Ian Sharp (writer and director)
We are really committed to telling the story of how a group of conscientious objectors descended on our village in rural Lincolnshire in 1940 to set up a pacifist community there. They left a legacy both in terms of descendants who remain in the area and have an influence on its character, including one who is a member of our cast and others who have made their name in the wider world such as Jim Broadbent, Damon Albarn and Michael Morpurgo. It’s a moving, inspiring and thought-provoking story which we try to tell with energy and humour. Much of the dialogue is taken verbatim from accounts the COs gave of their experiences. Our cast of 5 includes some with backgrounds in professional theatre and some with none but we are all united in our passion to tell our story.
We have performed the play to sell out, enthusiastic audiences around Lincolnshire and at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe at the Quaker Meeting House there. There have been 2 articles in The Friend about the play. There is one sole survivor from the community, Don Sutherland. Don is a Quaker Elder at Lincoln and if he can possibly make it attends and even performs in our show and is very happy to answer questions from the audience. He is 100 in June and to celebrate we are putting on the show at the Lincoln Meeting House.
Below are quotes from reviews of the show which we hope indicate the impact the show made in Edinburgh.
QUOTES FROM REVEWS OF OUR EDINBURGH RUN
- The show moves along at a cracking pace, with the versatile and talented cast playing a variety of roles. Above all their commitment to telling this remarkable story shines through, together with their genuine respect for the courage of COs and the women who supported them. The Quaker Meeting House is to be congratulated for bringing this play and this company to the Fringe and the full house clearly appreciated it.
- Moving, inspiring, witty and thought-provoking, Conchies is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at its best.
- This is a moving and thought-provoking drama, whose message needs to be heard as the tide of aggressive competition and self-interest threatens to rise and drown us all.
- This is an extraordinary piece about real people who followed the promptings of their consciences and refused to fight or take any alternative to military service in the Second World War……
- A powerful evocation; there was honestly not a dry eye in the theatre when I went with my family to watch it. (Damon Albarn).
- An amazing production. Really moving, very informative, a very complex and interesting piece of theatre. (Jim Broadbent.)
Guardian article link: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/dec/05/conscientious-objectors-lincolnshire-collow-abbey-farm-play-remembrance