A Month of Possibilities and Passion

written by Mick Martin

The past month has been a whistle stop tour of England - north and midlands. Alex and I, sometimes accompanied by Sascha, our set and costume designer, have been in Wolverhampton, Crewe, Huddersfield, Blackpool, Blackburn and Morecambe. In each, we’ve encountered a host of very passionate and committed people working at the creative coalface in a range of often very cool and imaginative ways to support and re-invigorate their town centre. Conversations have flowed about the potential for our play to connect with and impact on the communities in each place, young and old, soulies or no.  At the same time, an ever more tantalising list of possibilities are emerging: how could young people have a hands on role in the design and creation of the set? How might students play a role in the use of projection?  How will young music makers respond to the timeless beauty of northern soul classics?

Exciting conversations have taken place in each location, outlining possibilities and also challenges. Slowly, surely, the separate and very moving component parts of all this are hoving into view, taking and changing shape as we go through this process. It’s unlike anything  I’ve ever done, and it’s all the better for that. 

Thumbnail Image by Nathan Dumlao. Other images by Alex O’Toole.