The Dead Moon - A Smuggler`s Tale

by Tim Downie in collaboration with Claude Harz


director Alys Kihl

composer and musician Sylvia Hallett

set and costume designer Claire Lyth

cast: Annie Firbank, Sasha Mitchell, Charles Neville, Matt Prendergast

technical manager Roderick Orr-Ewing,

stage manager Heather Meecham

lighting technician Max Wingate

special guests: Vernon Rose singer, Richard Davies stepdancer and singer, Lenny Whiting, Percy and Doreen West, and Maddy Thorp stepdancers

‘The Dead Moon’ is a touring production. This was a ‘showcase’ tour leading to a major tour of East Anglia and other regions in autumn 2009.

The production is a powerful drama based on local smuggling stories intertwined with a dark and beautiful East Anglian folk tale, The Dead Moon. Sylvia Hallett combines a score of atmospheric and brilliant original music with traditional English fiddle playing.

The show is full of sea shanties sung by the cast and also for the audience to join in. The guest performers bring a richness and unique quality to the show with their superb stepdancing and traditional unaccompanied singing.

We would like to thank Aldeburgh Music, ACE East, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Leche, Scarfe and Adnams Charitable Trusts and private donors for their support. And also Blackwing Lighting for support in kind.

REVIEW by David Porter, Eastern Daily Press,
The New Cut, Halesworth, 3 July 2008

...Great theatre...Annie Firbank plays an old harridan, or wise chorus, commenting on the action and stiffening the backbone of the locals, with the crunch of feet on the shingle in her voice and moon shadows across marshes in her eyes...The highlight is the music/sound effects – created by Sylvia Hallett sitting at the side with a range of instruments from violin to kalimbe and including her magnificent voice. She makes sounds, weird, chilling, terrifying and atmospheric.

After a mini tour in Suffolk, it could be developed into an extensive work next year, hopefully taking in the entire region. It deserves wider coverage.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS

‘Life -enhancing evening made unique to its surroundings by the
inclusion of a wealth of local talent.’
Steuart Bedford, conductor

'original, very well written show … brought out humour, poignancy and made the whole a vibrant experience.'
Angela Neustatter, journalist

'The step dancing was a real bonus at the end, and we felt we were actually sitting in the inn with everyone, rather than an audience in a theatre. '
Jude Banks

'The company provides a unique form of community entertainment of which there needs to be more.'
Christopher Lucas, Eastfeast director

'What a triumph! We enjoyed every minute of The Dead Moon…It was a most brilliant production and appealed to every age. Thank you for the most memorable evening.'
Anthea Stewart, photographer

'I hope more people will get a chance to see this fine production.'
Roger Lloyd Pack, actor

EXTRACTS FROM CHILDREN`S LETTERS (a class from Virginia Primary School, Tower Hamlets on school visit to Suffolk)

We are writing to thank you for the trip to the theatre. We had a tremendous time! The play was based on real life. We didn`t know that much about smuggling. The tap dancing was brilliant. When the audience was singing (especially our class) the roof was going to fall off.
Sadek and Jabal

My two favourite characters were, Bessie, the old lady; she was really funny and kept on saying names to the other people she hated.
Emma

The show was fantastic! I was completely amazed when I saw the lady doing the sound with her own voice. I liked the smuggler`s wife because she could sing beautifully exactly like you`re in heaven.
RB Rima

I liked the coloured lighting. Especially I liked when the monster bite the captain. It was my best bit. The play was fascinating and it learnt me a lot of stuff.
A Hassan

I liked learning about smugglers. I especially liked Bessie because she was funny and I liked her accent. I liked the way she looked drunk and homeless. I liked the music because it goes with the acting and everyone was allowed to join in.
Shabah

The actors and actresses did a great job by showing their feelings to the audience. We liked the music sound effects by the white haired lady. It was amazing how much she could do.
Imram and Alim

My favourite character was the monster because it made the play kind of scary. I liked the way it moved and slithered onto the stage.
J Ahmed