Farnham

19 - 22 Sep 2007

Evenings at 7.30

Matinees:

19, 20  Sep at 2.30

in St Andrews Parish Church, Farnham

Alton

11 - 12 Oct 2007

Our second production is the winner of last year’s NFRAC nationwide competition for a play on the subject of Farnham’s most famous son, William Cobbett. 

Winning writer, Luath Grant Ferguson, lives in Alton. He has worked and written for many years in youth and community theatre, and  was a founder director of the original Farnham Youth Theatre. Working with professional and student performers, he wrote and directed Hampshire’s 800th Centenary celebration of European Theatre in Winchester’s Great Hall.  “I’ve admired William Cobbett since I was at school,” says Luath. “There has never been a play or film about his incredible life. It was brilliant of NFRAC to organise the competition. I’m really grateful !”

Competition judges, Corin Redgrave, Guy Slater, Josephine Tewson and Tamara Ustinov liked Luath’s play a lot. “It tells the story of William Cobbett in the most entertaining way,” they say. “ The dialogue is excellent, and it covers all the main points of his life. It is also the best portrait of the man himself. We like the vitality and quirkiness of the surrounding characters, the savour and flavour of their language, the craft and skill of the written dialogue, the warmth and humour and uplift provided by the songs and musical framework. It has flair, energy and vitality”.

William Cobbett ( born,  Farnham, 1763; died,  Ash,  1835 ) may have a lively official fan club, and admirers all over the world, but he has been sorely neglected by the town of his birth until recently. Now, there is to be a new statue of him, and a play. Feisty social reformer, founder of the first nationwide popular newspaper, and the first  man  to record  government  proceedings ( handed over to his printer, Hansard ), he fought against  flogging in the army, child labour and poor pay and conditions among farm-workers. His most famous work, Rural Rides, contains unique descriptions of our local countryside as it was in the 1820s. Luath has written some of these into his play.

Battling Billy is to be the centrepiece of a wider programme of events celebrating William Cobbett in the Farnham area, and across East Hampshire. These will include (i) a touring exhibition illustrating Cobbett’s life and works (ii) re-enactments of scenes in Cobbett’s Rural Rides (iii) information packs to local schools, and (iv) talks to interested organisations.

Director, Maurice Thorogood,  is already working closely with Luath and is excited at the chance to perform Battling Billy so close to where our hero lies buried. “Cobbett is a hero !” says Maurice,” a real hero !”  Maurice will be casting in the early summer, but Luath is already looking for musicians to perform in the play’s small Victorian playhouse band. Phone him on 01420 82630, or e-mail, LuathGF@aol.com, if you are interested.

Performances of Battling Billy in the third week of September will include a schools’ and community matinee. A short tour is being planned. 

Venue information 

COBBETT's

RURAL RIDES

Click the TV to see a short re-enactment of Cobbett's journey through England

*Link to director's site:

www.mauricethorogood.com