Shining Lights Youth Theatre: The Roses of Eyam, at New Greenham arts, on Monday July 14^th and Tuesday July 15^th.

When the plague arrived in the Derbyshire village of Eyam in 1665 and people started to die at an alarming rate, the Rev William Mompession overcame his difference with the Rev Stanley, the pervious rector of the village. They co-operated to persuade the villagers to prevent the spread of the disease by quarantining themselves from the outside world.

From the very start, we felt we were all part of the village, with the cast emerging from seats within the audience, each quietly quoting an appropriate phrase as they moved onto the stage and drew us into their story. The setting was impressive with an imaginatively constructed oak tree as the focal point surrounded by the streets and houses of the village.

 As the story unfolded, these houses were marked with red crosses when the disease overcame their occupants and the enormity of the tragedy was laid before us.

Throughout the play, the skilful lighting and gentle background music added further atmosphere to the situation.

The cast of nine played all the principle roles as well as those of the villagers.

Although this play was originally written for a large cast, these performers created the impression of numbers with well choreographed movements and groupings. The use of puppets for the other significant characters was ingenious, well handled and particularly effective for the boy separated from his girlfriend from a nearby village.

Daryl Hurts was excellent as William Mompession, as he first showed leadership and determination to guide the villagers and then, with Chantelle Davision as Catherine Mompession, was brought down to a low with the emotional death of his wife. This particular scene was very well done.

There were also excellent performances by all the other actors, notably Katie Hartly-Kane as the Rev Stanley and Tom Harland as Marshall Howe. The plague reached it climax in 1666 and the scene of the open air service was particularly poignant when the surviving villagers listed the names of more people who had died and quietly placed further crosses on houses.

This was powerful, well directed play with a group of young talented actors. However, it was disappointing to see so few in the audience on the second night.

PETER KEARNS

Newbury Weekly News 24^th July 2008

Humbling Performance

The Roses of Eyam, New Greenham Arts, July 2008

The Roses of Eyam, by Don Taylor is based on a true story from 1666, when a parcel of clothing was transported to the small town of Eyam, from plague riddled London, causing the plague to engulf the town’s inhabitants, leaving few survivors. Shining Lights told the story, as adapted by Director, Pete Watt with maturity and conviction.

The relatively small cast led the audience, confidently through the often harrowing story. As the cast was so small, many parts were doubled up carefully, even using puppets at times, to play the children of the town. Daryl Hurst played, with aplomb, the Rector of town, who had to direct his parish in time of need. Who in turn had to look within themselves, as they came to the conclusion that they had to stay in the town, without anyone leaving or entering, in order to quarantine the killer plague. A difficult and sensitive subject to tackle by any means.

A malfunctioning puppet is enough to make even the strongest of actor’s corpse on stage, but Katie Hartley-Kane handled the situation with absolute professionalism. Excellent performances were had by Chantelle Davison (the Rector’s wife), who’s confession of the discovery that she was dying was tenderly and skillfully acted, as was Alec Burrell’s demise and suffering. Other notable performances came from Tom Harland, Àine McGarvey and a convincing Anna Roberts.

Direction was sound. There was something very filmic about the whole piece, with the use of constant background music, adding layers of texture for the cast to work within their set of black and white, which contrasted with the period costume. The monotone nature of the visuals juxtaposed nicely with the complexity of issues, concerns and fears racing within each member of the town.

All in all, a very entertaining, thought provoking and humbling night was had, in the capable hands of Shining Lights.

MCG