What's on in Ribchester
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Deeds not Words
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Headed by Deb Groves and Rebecca
Parkinson and featuring Keith Flood as narrator, the
dedicated cast succeeded in taking their audience on a journey from the
first rousing Suffragette speeches to the funeral of Emily Davison and
two personal encounters from victims of the Cat and Mouse Act. The piece
was an informative and bold attempt to present the times and trials of
these noble women. RATS have once again found a nice balance between
fact and dramatisation. The music festival gives the society a chance to
move away from the pantomimes and plays which govern their year and
explore a more significant and historic type of theatre.
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The strength of ‘Deeds not Words’ rested in its modesty and simplicity. Strong performances and fitting costumes were a necessary part of the production but it was the structure of the piece; a snippet of historical facts and figures followed by a dramatisation of key events, a retelling of real life accounts and short monologues which gave the production its depth. Rather than dressing the production up in exciting set and music the cast relied on exploring the reality and emotions these women faced a hundred years earlier, with integrity and truth. The use of local sites and promenade set-up of the piece helped to move the action along at a steady pace and set apart this production in the Rats season as something more progressive and distinctive.
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The production would, perhaps have benefited from a more central, urban
setting as most of the action; powerful suffragette speeches and
protests would have taken place in town and city centres. However, it
might have been harder to prevent a chorus of unofficial (and unpaying)
audience members joining the promenade had the company moved closer into
the crowded village centre.
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The society’s attempt both to write (The writers were Viki Mason, Deb Groves, Charlotte Green, Rebecca Parkinson, Anne Rogerson and Bryony Frost) and to present a side of theatre which aims to teach and inform as well as entertain, was met with great success. ‘Deeds not Words’ was more noble and thought-provoking than previous work attached to the music festival; while the ‘Ghost Walk’ and ‘Pendle Witch Trials’ of previous years were fanciful and successful at invoking a dramatic atmosphere, ‘Deeds not Words’ was a far more credible outing for RATS; the kind of theatre they should strive to present annually. Jo Shipman
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| Ribchester Parochial Hall | |
| With the new year well underway activities at the hall are in full
swing, as the following list well illustrates. Contact Colin Cunliffe (878473) or Ian Bentley (878480) for further details or to book the hall
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| Mondays: Line dancing
7.30pm to 9.00pm
Tuesdays: Cubs 6.30pm to 8.00pm Tuesdays: Scouts 8.00pm to 9.00pm Wednesday: Teas after church service 10.30am Wednesday & Thursday: RATS 7.30pm to 10.00pm Thursdays: Brownies 6.00pm to 7.30pm Fridays: Ju Jitsu 7.00pm to 8.00pm 1st & 3rd Fridays in the month: Welcome Group Sundays: Teas after church service 12.00pm |
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