Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere

 

 

 

Congratulations to all concerned with this excellent, topical outdoor Production, which is being presented over two evening and two afternoon performances during the Ribfest Celebrations, this week.After many weeks of beautiful weather, the rain started at about 7.00pm and continued for the entire performance of this ambulant Production. Both cast and audience were wet but “ the show must go on” and the determined actors performed their play with the addition of umbrellas.

The audience stayed with the action moving from the Ribchester Arms set in the present day, to outside Stonehouse in 1905, onto the School Playground ( Present Day) and 1909.The penultimate setting was outside the beautiful Alms Houses in 1914 and finally The Parish Centre Gardens in 1918.

The excellent script by the talented R.A.T.S. member Bridget Rabbitts had been very well researched and sensitively written, portraying public attitudes towards the campaigning women who joined the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the problems faced by conflicting ideas amongst families and local communities.The play was Produced and Directed by Bridget Rabbitts, Charlotte Green and Viki Mason and they are to be applauded for their hard work, not only with the cast but also sourcing the settings and researching the costumes and props.

This was a fascinating insight into the pioneering spirit within communities and gave us all food for thought.

I was impressed with the opening scene where Grandma Ruth in 2018, was trying to explain to her Grandchildren, what life was like in the early 1900’s and we were then spirited back to the past.The entire cast worked so well together and captured the essence of this difficult period in History, immersing themselves in their roles.It was encouraging to see a good age range of actors from four year olds to the more mature members.It is not easy to project voices in the open air without microphones and occasionally it was difficult to catch all the dialogue. They were not helped with the pouring rain beating down on both actor and audience umbrellas!!!

The views from a cross section of Society were woven into the performance with great effect and there was positive audience reaction and participation.

As much as we “ suffered” with the inclement weather it was nothing compared to what women had to contend with in their fight for Emancipation.                                                                        Well done to all involved.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.