Ambitious plans for a year-long love song to Barrow have been revealed by Theatre Factory.
If! Inclusion – A Love Song to Barrow will launch in November and features 10 shows with themes around money, poverty, survival, war, community, inclusion and racial tension. Stories come from real-life experiences.
Rachel Ashton, Theatre Factory artistic director said: “This is the most ambitious programme of drama in our almost three decades of work. We are incredibly proud to deliver a festival of theatre that is both gritty and gorgeous.
“Each show has been created with Barrow people and real stories of life in this town. We look at historic heartfelt stories about the Barrow experience of World War Two and move to the present day with stories of survival, self-worth and comedies about cash.”
The festival opens on the Remembrance Saturday and Sunday at Barrow Town Hall) with 25 Words – the true story of a Barrow family in World War Two.
It is 1944. Barrovian soldier Michael Lowden has been captured at the fall of Singapore. The prisoner of war ship he is on is torpedoed and he is left floating in the South China Sea.
Meanwhile back in Barrow his father Charles, launches an appeal and brings the community together to support the families of POWs. Charles is allowed by the Japanese authorities to write 25 words a month to Michael. What would you write in 25 words to your loved one far away?
Featuring live music and South Lakes Rock School choirs, it has been written by award-winning playwright, Kevin Fegan.
In January, a double-bill of comedies comes in the form of Life Hacks and Follow The Money.
Life Hacks explores poverty in a positive way. What happens when life throws everything at you and then your mortgage goes up?
Follow the Money is a true life musical based on the memories of women who were the frontline workforce of Barrow’s banks – the ladies who stamped the cheques, counted the cash and kept the wheels of industry turning from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Next spring, Sapeurs is a piece of musical theatre by award-winning writer Kevin Fegan. This work tells the true story of people who have come to Barrow as refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, those who work with them and members of the community.
If! Inclusion Festival has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England and BAE Systems.
Tickets are now available and are free or by donation to Theatre Factory, which is a registered charity.
The Theatre Factory was set up in 1997 by Rachel as a place for Barrow residents, especially young people, to make original new drama based on their own ideas, through improvising, playing, writing and generally messing around.
Theatre Factory is based in the Cooke’s Arts and Media Centre.
