Epic Musical Love Story Brings Staffordshire Community Together

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For the first time, a cast of talented local Staffordshire performers will join the Lichfield Garrick Theatre’s professional production team to present the venue’s first Community Musical.

Under the direction of Lichfield Garrick’s Artistic Director, Tim Ford, over 50 local actors and performers have been working for several months to bring to the Lichfield stage Melvyn Bragg and Howard Goodall’s award-winning British musical, The Hired Man.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Set against the backdrop of the Cumbrian Lakes from the 1890s to the 1920s, The Hired Man follows the timeless story of a young married couple and their struggle to carve a living from the land, just as the traditional rhythms of country life are swept away by the gathering storm of war in Europe.

Based on the best selling book by Melvyn Bragg, The Hired Man is brought to life by the heartbreakingly-beautiful music of Howard Goodall, who recently scored, (excuse the intended pun), the West End hit Bend It Like Beckham.

Here in Staffordshire the production team consists of Musical Director Angharad Sanders with Design by John Brooking, and overall direction by Tim Ford.

STAFFORDSHIRE COMMUNITY THEATRE

The idea of bringing together amateur local performers under the umbrella of a professional production is not a new idea, but it’s one that hasn’t been done before at The Garrick.  It’s an incredibly rewarding way for people to experience first hand what goes into a theatre production, as well as get a taste for what it’s like to perform in a professionally staged show.

The cast and crew of the Hired Man have also really embraced the idea of understanding more about the themes, era and the characters that they are portraying, when recently they visited Staffordshire Regiment Museum to experience what trench life was like for soldiers during The Great War.

A number of the cast perform as soldiers during the show as they are recruited to join the fight on the front line. So understanding what life was really like for those who fought on the front line will hopefully bring a greater depth to the portrayal of the impact of war, which is a central theme of the show.

Heather Grace Gallagher from Burton, who plays a Farmer’s Wife in the show said:

“It’s sometimes difficult to comprehend the sheer scale of the impact of war on those on the front line as well as those left behind. Visiting the trenches and museum really humanises the fact that those fighting for our country are somebody’s husband, wife, mother, father, son or daughter. Realising the volume of loss of life in the light of that is heart-breaking.”

 

Matthew Bishop, 15, from Burntwood who plays Alec in the show, commented:

“I perform as a solider in The Hired Man. I’m glad I was able to visit the trenches as it has shown me what life was like for the men in the war. Children as young as 8 were sent to the front line and it must have been an incredibly scary experience for them.”

 

The Hired Man is being presented at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre from 29 July to 4 August 2016

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[bctt tweet=”THE HIRED MAN – the first ever community music from @The_Garrick Theatre from July 29 https://www.staffordshiretheatre.com/the-hired-man-lichfield-garrick-community-musical/” via=”no”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1458774858440{background-color: #e8e8e8 !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1458950926278{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”DATES, TIMES and BOOKING” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1458775149096{padding-top: 10px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1458775554849{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-12″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1469382578619{padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]

WHERE

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BOX OFFICE

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If you need help please contact the venue box office on the number provided above.  Enjoy the show.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwhKDePikpQ&rel=0″ title=”THE LANDOR THEATRE REVIVAL of THE HIRED MAN 2011″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1458774858440{background-color: #e8e8e8 !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1459159851723{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”SEEN THIS SHOW? SUBMIT YOUR REVIEW” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1458936183375{padding-top: 10px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-12″][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1459162231179{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1459162663301{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-md-12″][vc_column_text]We love to hear what people think about Staffordshire Theatre – so why not share your feedback about this or any show that you have seen at the Lichfield Garrick, and help others to decide if they’d like to see it too.  All reviews can be anonymous if you prefer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″ offset=”vc_col-md-12″][vc_btn title=”SUBMIT A REVIEW” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”juicy-pink” align=”left” i_type=”openiconic” i_icon_openiconic=”vc-oi vc-oi-user” link=”url:%23||” add_icon=”true”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1458934303194{padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #e8e8e8 !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1458950862541{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1458930987263{padding-right: 20px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”JOIN THE FREE STAFFORDSHIRE THEATRE NEWSLETTER” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1458928183290{padding-top: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1458935765352{padding-right: 20px !important;}”]With stories, news, offers, features, and even competitions and fun quizzes ALL about theatre in Staffordshire.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-12″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1459165350582{padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]

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