Safe Regeneration Ltd reposted this
So excited to be sharing this news! Writing and performing a musical is like sending your child out into the world and hoping it will be understood, loved and cherished! Thanks to Arts Council England funding we can develop and share the story to a wider audience and we are thrilled! #bornbytheriver
In 2000, through a Creative Europe funded project – a story emerged as part of a collaboration with Liverpool-based musicians (including Dawn Hignett, Curtis Watts, Matty Dean and Keith Xander) and a group of European Creative Practitioners. The story, told through a musical was written while a global pandemic was forcing Cities and Towns into lockdown, meaning that the piece had to be developed largely through online workshops, and snatched rehearsals. The musical was performed at the Lock & Quay Community Gardens, to a socially-distanced audience of 400 people with dancers, high-wire and aerial interpretations adding to the magic of this highly emotive experience which had the crowd locked into the powerful story of the City. The dreamer of dreams, a girl with a wanderlust - the girl born by the river.... a story of 1787 Liverpool, threshold to the ends of the Earth - a city of merchants, traders, dreamers and slavers… The writers of this musical story (Brian & Jane Dawe) have now received a research and development grant from Arts Council England to further develop the story into a performance that will embark on a local, then European tour. Producer Alexis Johnson and Creative Consultant Neil Patterson return as key members of the team that will create and deliver this multidisciplined performance piece. It is planned that the debut performance will take place in Spring 2025 at a so-far undisclosed Bootle venue - follow @bryndawe for updates and to learn more about the story and performances.