A fantastic performance art project. Image from the Alarum Theatre Company.

There’s a free touring theatre show happening this evening and again in the coming week in our area and it’s rather fascinating, as the touring part of it is based on a canal boat and the theatre production being staged tells the story of women working the waterways of the Midlands during the war.

The Idle Women is a great story and the the whole production looks like a cracker. Performances by the Alarum Theatre Company are happening this evening (Wednesday 2nd May 2018) at The Boat House in Rushall, and a week later in Bloxwich and Pelsall on the 8th May 2018. On the 9th and 12th May  2018 the production team get to Yates Club and Calf Heath Marina respectively.

• 2 May, 7:30pm The Boathouse Pub, Rushall
• 8 May 1:00pm Stan Ball Centre, Bloxwich
• 8 May 7:30pm The Fingerpost pub, Pelsall
• 9 May 7:30pm Yates Sport & Social Club, Lime Lane, Norton
• 12 May 7:30pm Calf Heath Marina, Shareshill

As I’ve said, performances are free but donations are welcomed to keep the show on the road – er, water. There’s loads about this on the theatre company’s website here and on their Facebook page here.

Kate Saffin has been in touch to tell me all about it and ask if anyone can make a Brownhills history connection here? I’d love to hear what readers have to say about that, and if you go to a show please do feel free to give us a review and some pics. You can comment on this post or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.

Far from idle!

Dear Brownhills Bob,

I came across your website a few weeks ago and was fascinated to see so much about the Brownhills Colliery.

We are a waterways touring theatre company on our way to the Pelsall and Brownhills area with a show that shares the stories of the women who took on the working boats during the war. On this particular tour we are following the route worked throughout the war by Daphne March. Using her family’s boat, the Heather Bell, she carried flour from Worcester to Tipton and then coal from Cannock back to Worcester.

Idle Women of the Wartime Waterways is a double bill of theatre, poetry and music – a thoroughly researched and entertaining telling of the stories. As part of the show we aim to include stories local to the area. Our references for Brownhills are sparse but we know that two of her crew spent the nght on the drawing room floor at Mrs Arnott’s house in March 1941, having arrived to join her only to find she hadn’t yet arrived. I don’t know if you have ever come across Daphne and the Heather Bell but we would love to hear more if you have.

This looks like a fun and informative show. Image from the Alarum Theatre Company.

You can see more of our work via the links at the foot of the email.

Our shows in the area are on Tuesday May 8th at the Fingerpost in Pelsall and on Wednesday 9th at Yates Sports and Social Club, both at 7.30pm and hope you might be able to join us at one. And if you feel able to share what we are doing via your blog that would be wonderful.

Thank you and best wishes

 Kate Saffin

07976 818959
Website: www.alarumtheatre.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alarumtheatre
Twitter @Alarum_theatre

From the 2017 Tour: