First World War Readings at Kardomah94
Last week, The History Troupe cast from Oppy Wood plus Rob Bell; Geoff Sargieson and Norah Hanson read a selection of material from all over the world. Poems and writings from Russia to Italy; India to Armenia and the Wipers Times were added to more well known poems from the British Isles and Germany.
There is one poem from China. Few people know that 140,000 Chinese were sent to the Western front to help out on the docks and behind the lines. A deal had been struck that - if the Allies won the war, the ports on the Chinese coast that were under German rule would be returned. At Versailles they were given to Japan. To compound the felony. the victorious allies re-deployed them - clearing the battlefields and building cemetries for the dead. Many were killed - because they had not been warned of the danger of live shells. In one shell casing a poem ...
The readings are listed in a Blog Rob Bell has been running for a while. This blog is all about journeys...
Go to: http://rihlajourney.wordpress.com/
Aubrey Pocock’s trawl across the pubs of Hull …Last night at the Bull on Beverley Road was the last performance of Aubrey’s Tour of the Four Corners of Hull. Emlyn, a truck driver from Ebbw Vale in Wales happened to be at the Sportsman: “I have been coming to Hull for over 20 years and I have never learned so much about the City AND had such a good night out anywhere in the UK!”
This was history bottom up; how events and the famous had an impact on each of the pubs visited: the founder of the SAS and honorary Bedouin Wilfred Thesiger at Rayners; Bowie at the Polar Bear; philosopher Wittgenstein at the sportsman and Charles 1st at the Bull on Beverley Road.
Aubrey was played by Stan Heywood who gave a tour de force and plans to enter Mastermind with the history of Hull as a topic; Cass Patton was the juke box and the Singing Nun; Dan Ash was a lost white Russian and raffle salesman; Lily Barr, a tarot card reader and Walt Lees was the magician. Applause rings out stll!
Each pub had a different story to tell and the craic was mightier still with the Hillbilly Troupe performing 40 different songs across the four nights. Barry Cundill opened up with his superb local songs and the Street Urchins joined us at the Polar Bear. Not forgetting Nahro Zagros – who gave us one of the most memorable violin solos at Rayners. Rob Bell wrote the script, working with Stan and Ian Winter on how best to make Aubrey tick.
The Four Corners Tour was sponsored by the Freedom Festival who saw this as an opportunity to open up Freedom across the City – MANY THANKS. Burnsy backed us all the way on the radio and the Hull Daily Mail gave us terrific coverage. David Murden filmed each performance and Darren Rogers of OccularArt took some superb photos and designed the T shirt.
Above all, each venue was packed and many followed the trawl across the city. This was a good night out with plenty of the craic and the songs before the sacking of our pubs took hold. There were raffles and dominoes; we voted to refuse King Charles entry to the City at the Bull; there were tearful moments in recalling 1968 at Rayners and, Aubrey's market stall banter was a tour de force. Remembering Jack Harrison VC in each pub was a poignant moment and THT have been asked to tour the pubs with a First World War playlet in coming months. THT are thinking about it.
Aubrey and the Hillbilly Troupe have been asked to return to the pubs and do some more and there is an idea to stage Aubrey’s Prayer as the story of Aubrey’s life and his attempt to turn back the tides of blind progress to give us back our market stall banter; the pub craic and the hidden histories of our town.
Many, many thanks to all who came along!!! And Aubrey hopes that he passed the audition!
www.thehistorytroupe.org
DOUBLE HEADER TONIGHT: KARDOMAH94, HULL 19:30 £5
1. The Play Oppy Wood. Tommy comes home from the war and explodes in the family like a bomb. Nothing can be the same. Cass Patton acts and directs with Bruce Khan as Tommy; Lily Barr as the wife and Dan Ash as the debt collector Sidney Watmough.
2. Poetry of the First World War. This goes beyond the British canon and explores poetry from Russia; Germany; India; Turkey; Kurdistan; and China. These words ask a lot of questions ...
www.thehostorytroupe.org
For more Information
https://www.facebook.com/events/1854642451341398/
The day the lights went out all over Europe...
For me, one of the most sensitive artists on the subject of war is Martin Waters. If you can - have a look at:
Poppy Installation at The Creative and Cultural Artspace in Princes Quay Shopping Centre, Hull. The new home of the Freedom Flame, The Flame of Liberation from Holland.
If not - have a look at http://www.martin-waters.co.uk/
Martin painted the image for the cover of Rob Bell's book Sharp Street. Today of all days, Martin Waters captures the mood.
www.thehistorytroupe.org
Another BIG week for The History TroupeMonday. 04/08/14. Remembering Zeppelins on BBC Radio Humberside 4 xThursday 07/08/14. Kardomah94. Double Header:- Oppy Wood. A play. Tommy returns from the First World War and explodes in the family like a bomb.
- Reflections on the First World War. Readings from the War Poets - ALL over the world. This is a fresh perspective with readings from Russia; France; Germany; India; Armenia; Kurdistan; China and the British Isles. Goes beyond that corner of a foreign field ...
Friday 08/08/14. Aubrey Pocock, Act 1 Scene 4. After a hugely successful tour of Hull's iconic pubs (Polar Bear; Rayners and the Sportsman), Aubrey signs off at the Bull on Beverley Road. Another COMPLETELY new script reflecting Beverley Road area and the 700 year history of this entrance to Hull.
It has been a busy few weeks. Above all - this week sees The History Troupe join the commemoration of the First World War with some ground breaking insights. Come along to be challenged, entertained and ...
www.thehistorytroupe.org
