The new rural Northumberland musical from Morpeth-based The November Club, Beyond the End of the Road, opens this week in a livestock auction mart in Hexham.
Written by Laura Lindow (Key Change) with music inspired by local folk and traditional Northumberland music composed by by Katie Doherty, the show involves ideas and contributions distinctive to each community. November Club has travelled the county talking to villagers, collecting local tales and stories, and invited local choirs to perform at each show. Each performance will tell their untold stories, often in the words and voices of the villagers themselves.
In each location, the professional cast of ten will be joined by local participants and musicians, including choirs and at the end of the show, the audience is invited to take part in a ceilidh, courtesy of musicians Alistair Anderson and David Oliver.
“It is as much the villagers’ show as it is ours,” said Cinzia Hardy, the Artistic Director of November Club. “This is a great opportunity for talented locals to be part of a performance which is not only highly relevant to them, but also explores the real dynamics of life in rural Northumberland.
“The local communities who have been called upon to get involved have shown real enthusiasm.”
November Club specialises in site-specific work, making their productions in collaboration with local people and presenting them in the place the story is set. A lot of the songs have been inspired by what people have said about what they find special about living in Northumberland.
The cast includes seven actors—Michael Blair, Alice Blundell, Micky Cochrane, Jane Holman, Lawrence Neale, Pete Peverley and Christina Berriman Dawson—and three musicians—Shona Mooney, Dave Gray and Rachael McShane.
Beyond the End of the Road tours to:
- Friday 2 June 7:30PM
Hexham Auction Mart - Friday 9 June 7:30PM
Thropton War Memorial Hall - Sunday 11 June 7:00PM
Felton Memorial Hall - Friday 16 June 7:30PM
Kirknewton Village Hall - Sunday 18 June 7:00PM
Norham Village Hall - Friday 23 June 7:00PM
Shilbottle Village Hall - Sunday 25 June 6:30PM
Bardon Mill Village Hall - Tuesday 27 June 7.30PM
Sage Gateshead, Sage Two - Friday 30 June 7:30PM
Whalton Village Hall - Saturday 1 July 4.00PM
Crossman Village Hall, part of Holy Island Festival 2017
The production receives public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Joicey Trust, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland National Park and the Community Foundation. It is supported by Queen’s Hall Arts, Hexham and produced in collaboration with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme.