The story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs comes to the Maltings Arts Theatre next Thursday, May 1, fresh from an acclaimed run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and a national tour.
Local professional theatre company, Townsend Productions, are performing We Will Be Free, The Tolpuddle Martyrs Story at 7.30pm in the St Albans theatre.
Set in 1834 We Will Be Free follows the true story of George and Betsy Loveless.
He was a Methodist preacher and the leader of the six Dorsetshire farm labourers who were tried, convicted and condemned to harsh transportation by an oppressive Government for having the temerity to swear a secret oath and form a union to fight against a succession of wage cuts inflicted by the local landowner.
The story is told using the theatrical style developed through Townsend’s production of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists which includes cartoons and animation, puppetry and musical arrangements of the songs and rallying hymns of the Dorset labouring classes by folk singer and squeezebox player John Kirkpatrick.
The cast features former Sheffield university student Neil Gore and Charlotte Powell and the play is directed by Louise Townsend and Richard Stone.
Tickets at £12/£10 are available from the box office at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo/0844 8700 887.
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