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Historic Kirkstall Forge champion to hit the stage in musical celebration

A musical celebration of the life of Kirkstall Forge legend, Betty Beecroft, is set to hit the boards in May in the world premiere of folk musical Mother of the Revolution.

The brainchild of Leeds-born Beth Knight, co-director of Archipelago arts collective, it will bring the untold story of the successful industrialist to life, along with those of the working communities that followed her. 

The performance will interweave 275 years of history, celebrating the impact Betty Beecroft and the generations of industrial workers at Kirkstall Forge made to their local community.

Director, Beth Knight, said: “Using folk, the music of working people, we explore the themes of community, heritage and industry through an ambitious, promenade production at Leeds Industrial Museum. Importantly, much of the original script and score have been influenced through our conversations within the local community since 2021.

“The achievements of women need to be celebrated and this project shines a light on how an ordinary Yorkshire woman made an extraordinary change to the world around her. It is also a production that has been made possible thanks to the drive and creativity of a predominantly female team.

“Rosie MacPherson’s brilliant script platforms stories of workers in the 20th and 21st centuries and paints an honest picture of the impact of deindustrialisation on the area while showcasing the ingenuity, strength and compassion of working people in Leeds across multiple generations.”

The production set is being built with support from CEG, the developer behind Kirkstall Forge, and its capable team of learners at its Forging Futures training and skills campus. CEG is also sponsoring the community engagement and family outreach of the production, which will touch the lives of so many Kirkstall residents.

Taking you on an immersive journey across history through Leeds Industrial Museum in Armley, the production combines local professional actors, young performers from Interplay Theatre’s Youth Theatre and a community choir. Any local residents wanting to participate in the choir still have the opportunity to participate, with choir rehearsals running every Tuesday evening at Armley’s Interplay Theatre. Contact sean@archipelagoarts.co.uk to take part.

The production will take place on Thursday to Sundays between the 2 – 5 and 9 – 12 May at the Leeds Industrial Museum. Ticket sales launch on International Woman’s Day (Friday, 8 March 2024) via this link.

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