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Live Performance
Theatre, Story, Poetry and Music
A double bill of theatre, story, poetry and music to whisk you back to the days of World War II when a shortage of crews to keep the working boats going brought a new breed of boater to the canal. Young women, later nicknamed Idle Women, took on the challenge of managing pairs of 72ft narrow boats and 50 tons of cargo, and this show brings their stories to life. Come and enjoy Kate Saffin’s ‘Isobel’s War’ and Heather Wastie’s ‘Idle Women and Judies’ in waterside (and nearby) venues in the West Midlands.
Before the Women’s Training Scheme started in 1942, there was one woman already working a single boat. Daphne March operated Heather Bell throughout the war, and our Spring 2018 tour follows Daphne’s route (Worcester - Tipton - Cannock), celebrating her life with new additions to the show.
“These pieces vividly bring to life the sounds, smells and texture of waterway life. .... Both women are exceptional storytellers, their performances brimming over with personality and linguistic virtuosity.” London City Nights
You can read more about Alarum Theatre and our work on the website
The building is an old beam engine pump house, that has been used for this purpose since the 1850s, initially as a single engine, with a second engine installed in the 1860s. Later an electric pump was used – and we have re-installed one of the old ones beside the pound between locks 1 and 2.
It is still a pump house, with an electric pump in the building, drawing water from below lock 6, out to the grills just by the junction between the Tat Bank canal (and feeder arm) and the Titford Canal.
Theatre, Story, Poetry and Music
Oldbury,
West Midlands,
England,
B69 4NL.
Whilst every effort goes into ensuring this gig listing is accurate and up to date, always check with the venue before you travel.
