Shropshire Star

Turbulent times for north Shropshire

Performers from a Shropshire community arts group will bring the history of the canal to life through performance, music and dance in a unique show at three local venues.

Published
Members of the Turblent Times cast took a pop-up version of the show to Whitchurch Blackberry Fair. Left to right, Jenny Wilbraham, Dawn Edwards, Richard Jones and Kate Westgate.

Tickets are still available for Turbulent Times, a production written by Ellesmere community arts group, Fizzgigs and directed by Ellesmere’s Tony Lewery.

The story, with colourful characters, music and ceilidh-style dancing will be performed at three venues all linked with the local canal network – Chirk, Whitchurch and Ellesmere.

It takes place at Black Park Chapel, near Chirk on October 26, then moves to The Talbot Centre at the Sir John Talbot School, Whitchurch on October 27 before the final performance at The Boathouse, Ellesmere on October 28 . All performances start at 7.30pm.

Turbulent Times was first performed as part of the Merefest in Ellesmere in 2016 and takes a unique look at how the coming of the local canal transformed the lives of ordinary people.

Chairman of Fizzgigs, Claire Cartlidge, said that the show had already attracted considerable interest.

“We took a pop-up version to the Blackberry Fair in Whitchurch and had a really good response from everyone we spoke to.

“It’s a real family show, performed in the round, with interest for everyone and lots of chances for the audience to get involved,” she said.

She added that Fizzgigs had developed a reputation for its community art projects and for taking a different approach to telling stories about the area.

Tickets, costing £8 and £5 for under-16s and concessions, are available online at fizzgigs.co.uk/coming-soon.html, by messaging through the Fizzgigs Facebook page, by phoning 01691 622890 or from the individual venues.