The Ellesmere Canal, now the hugely popular Llangollen Canal, was a bit of a failure in its day! So much time and money was spent on the (World Heritage) aqueducts, tunnels and earthworks that there was nothing left to get the canal to Chester or Shrewsbury, its intended route!
Fizzgigs, a north Shropshire community arts group have created ‘Turbulent Times’ – ‘barn-stomping entertainment’ set around the building of the Ellesmere canal linking Chirk, Ellesmere and Whitchurch. It takes a unique look at how the coming of Thomas Telford’s (left) canal transformed the lives of ordinary people. The canal was begun in 1793 and completed in 1806 which these really were ‘Turbulent Times’, even in this rural location! The show uses performance, music and dance to trace the impact of the new canal and the Industrial Revolution on rural life, through the stories of colorful local characters.
The show will start at Black Park Chapel, near Chirk on Friday, October 26th, then moves to The Talbot Centre at the Sir John Talbot School, Whitchurch on October 27th before the final performance at The Boathouse, Ellesmere on October 28th. All performances start at 7.30pm.
Turbulent Times director, and well known canal historian and writer, Tony Lewery said that the Fizzgigs group had built a reputation for creative events in the area over the last five years combining performance, poetry, puppet building, music and light shows to tell traditional stories.
“The Fizzgig artists have produced some fantastic creations including the roaring dragon in Ellesmere carnival, the magical mermaids at Merefest and the lanterns and lantern horse in the Ellesmere Winter Festival parade. We’re pulling all that creative energy together in a beautiful family production with something for everyone and lots of chances for the audience to get involved,” he said.
The production was originally developed by Fizzgigs for the Merefest Festival and performed to a large crowd in the Cremorne Gardens in Ellesmere in 2016.
“Adapting that initial production to tour the three venues has given us the chance to develop the story, create some wonderful costumes and images and weave in more music and ceilidh style dancing. We hope everyone will come along, join in the fun and enjoy the show,” said Tony Lewery. (Right – some of the cast.)
Tickets, costing £8 and £5 for under-16s and concessions, are available online on the Fizzgigs website or from the venues.
The production was originally developed by Fizzgigs for the Merefest Festival and performed to a large crowd in the Cremorne Gardens in Ellesmere in 2016.