Tod Life - A Promenade Play - 29 and 30 March

The amazing team behind the promenade play spent time collecting stories from people in the town before weaving these into a fascinating, varied and engaging script.

The audience of 75 were split into three groups, who moved around the building experiencing different scenes in turn, set in the actual rooms they took place, before joining together in the ballroom.  The play ended by offering the audience the opportunity to take part in a ballroom dance. 

The scenes were mainly based on reality, such as a scene in the court room from actual criminal cases heard there in the 1960s, featuring a defence solicitor who is now long-retired but is a current town hall tour volunteer. The scene set on the grand staircase between the two Fielden wives from very different social classes was imagined, but enabled the story to be told of the Fielden wealth and the links to slavery. 

The play also featured a living statue of John Fielden, created by Giddy Kipper Arts who came to life to feature in the proceedings, explaining the 10 hours Act and more. The actual statue of John Fielden was unveiled outside the Town Hall as part of the opening celebrations in 1875. The plinth for our living statue was plastered with newspaper cuttings going back many years of all the different uses of the Town Hall.  While the play was performed, the living statue was sited in the spot of the original statue and engaged with many passers-by.  We also arranged for the living statue to make another visit to the Town Hall on the day of the opening, 3rd April, engaging with passers-by on the busiest market day.

It was really charming, and a lovely way to learn more about the history of Todmorden.

Really good fun, the right mix of performance and audience participation. Great innovative use of the space for a wonderful production.