Mystery Plays coming back?

Mask made for one of the plays

Something is being planned. Over several years the Penkhull Mystery Plays involved the local community in theatrical projects to bring people together. The plays bought a mixture of fact and fiction, history and spirituality together to create a one day festival of fun to penkhull village Green. Usually in early or mid July.

Up to 400 people would be involved in making props and costumes, acting and setting up the play and other work. All these activities built around the central performance where local adults and children got together to bring stories such as the history of the Trent and Mersey canal, Jonah and the Whale, the song of Solomon, a history of the 1842 peasants revolt in the Potteries and other interesting and fun stories onto the village green as a substantial play.


The organisers also included singing and making music for the shows. Writing scripts, putting on seperate performances for the day including morris dancing, maypole dancing  local choirs, brass bands, Ukelele players and a tower of song where individual musicians could perform. There was also an annual tug of war competition and circus skills workshops on the village green. A recent introduction was the Titchy Theatre where new writing was put on as playlets by a small number of volunteer actors. There were also stalls for such things as bakers and crafters and local charities together with plant sales.
It was only as Covid began that the Mystery Plays were toned down and had to be suspended. But with the 100th anniversary of the uniting of the six towns into the City of Stoke on Trent and the 20th (is it 25?) Anniversary of the Mysteries it feels like an important time to bring it back to Penkhull.

Distracted

Things have got in the way and I have hit a block with my painting of a teapot. I mean both physically and mentally.

You can see some of what is obstructing it. I need to move things, it’s just that I am mentally stuck. I think its the low light levels as this seems to get me every year. One day soon I hope have this finished.

I must feed the birds

My hubby always fed the birds at this time of year. I just realised that I need to take over. But I rarely get out in the garden because of being so unsteady and the fact that there are uneven steps,and the pathways are covered in leaf mould. I must make a plan to try and get out and feed them, other than that I think I will ask a friend.

January Aurora

Four images through my window.

I heard there were aurora last night, so at about 4am I took some very shaky photos. I think the pale whitish dots near the top of the photos was a star or planet that left a trail. The yellow colour was a neighbour’s lights.

I don’t have a tripod and as I have Parkinsons disease I can’t hold the camera still. So this is propped up on a pillow, 1 minute exposure. Sorry they are so blurred.

Old TV

What makes you feel nostalgic?

The WordPress image library is hard to use to find British pictures. I was looking for an image of “Robin Hood” but I could only find the bird, or a coat hood or the hood (bonnet) of a car.

I want to share some of the 1960’s TV shows I remember from childhood. Some of them are being shown again.

They include ‘the Avengers’, not the marvel ones, but John Steed and his various female companions. For example Mrs Emma Peel and Tara King. They were secret agents.

Then there is the Champions, three investigators, starring Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastido and William Gaunt. They were transformed into people with superpowers after a plane crash in Tibet.

Also, Randall and Hopkirk (deceased). Marty Hopkirk is killed in the first episode and returns as a ghost to help his friend to undertake Private Investigations. Marty’s wife Jeanie is often involved.

There are so many more, Dr Who, the Tomorrow People, Space 1999, Jason King, Department S. The Saint, the Persuaders and The adventures of Robin Hood…. So many, some from the 1970’s. And not forgetting Gerry Anderson shows like Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, and Joe 90. They give me a warm glow if I see the programmes, although some of them haven’t been on for decades. I get drawn back to sitting infront of the TV watching my favourite shows. Getting excited about their adventures. Life was so much simpler then.

Another year almost gone…

Tempus Fugit

Time flies, life goes on

Hurt and pain are never gone

Somewhat diminished

But still living here

Coiled round my heart

With everything dear.

Life seen in chunks

Days weeks and months

One year follows another

Some I can smother

Forgetting the pain

But then it rises again.

My life will continue

My future uncertain

Draw back the veil

Open the curtain

On next year’s adventures

And will I have dentures?

(well I couldn’t find a better rhyme…!)

Out to lunch

My friend took me out this afternoon for lunch. We went to a pub called the Star at Stone  and had a pleasant lunch. It’s on the Trent and Mersey canal and sits next to the towpath so it’s reachable from the water as well as the road. The decor is quite rustic and a nice mash up of old chairs and oak tables.

On the way home we drove home through the countryside on a road that parallels the main road but is more twisty and interesting. The sun was low and shining on the sides of buildings giving them a beautiful glow. A definite pick me up after days of grey mist.

Political views

How have your political views changed over time?

When I was young I voted one way, the same as the rest of my family. I was very young and influenced by their long term beliefs.

When I left home I moved into shared accommodation, I realised I had been living in a bubble at home, I hadn’t had the responsibility of paying bills before, or other things to deal with, like not having hot water and having to shower at the college. I met different people and they had different political views. Over the years I changed my priorities and my political allegencies.

All I would say is that it’s good to think for yourself, look at how life is and make a decision that is good for you, and the people around you.

Lightshade

Yes it’s a lampshade. Made up mainly fake bivalve shells. Yet another odd old thing my house is decorated with. I often wonder what will happen to my stuff when I’m gone? Do I specify that all my art (lots of paintings) will be shared out to family, donated to a local museum, my old school? Maybe someone will like it enough to buy it if it were sold in an auction? Is it persuasive enough for people to like? I won’t be there to find out.