OPEN AIR THEATRE IN A HISTORIC SETTING

‘The Roses of Eyam’
11-14 August 2004
 at
the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum

The historic buildings at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester, West Sussex, will provide a fascinating backdrop to evening open air theatre performances this summer. ‘The Roses of Eyam’ will be performed at the Museum from 11th to 14th August, and will be peripatetic, with the cast and the audience moving around the museum site. 

The Museum has a long tradition of summer open air theatre and this year visitors will be able to enjoy the added experience of following the action from scene to scene around the historic buildings on its beautiful 50 acre downland site. The Roses of Eyam is based on true events in the Derbyshire plague village of Eyam in 1665/6.  In 1665 the tailor in the village received a delivery by horse drawn cart (pulled by one of the Museum’s horses,)  of some cloth from London which carried the plague. The villagers took the brave decision to isolate themselves so that the disease would not spread beyond the village. It is a tale of suffering and great fortitude, compassion and courage, and as well as the obvious drama in the subject, there is humour and romance too. 

The production is the idea of Gaby Pritchard, a member of the Friends of the Museum and an English and Drama teacher. Last autumn Gaby formed Crooked Rose Theatre Productions, a new local theatrical company.  Gaby was not only inspired to use the Museum as a perfect setting for the play, but to make use of the whole site for the performance.  Crooked Rose has been awarded a substantial grant by Awards for All, a joint lottery grants programme, to help fund the production which will be a true community enterprise with an enormous cast of local amateurs.

England’s leading Museum of historic buildings and traditional rural life is an ideal setting for all the family to enjoy an evening’s entertainment and even bring a picnic to make the most of the occasion. Not only will audiences find themselves caught up in the heart of 17th century life as they move around the Museum, they will also be able to partake of contemporary food and drink as refreshments during the interval. 

The Roses of Eyam will be performed at the Museum from 11th to 14th August at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Chichester Tourist Information on 01243 775888, price £6.50.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm livestock and a working Tudor kitchen which also offers Tudor dining fortnightly on Saturday evenings. The Museum runs a well-established programme of courses in building conservation and rural crafts.  There is a café which uses the Museum’s own flour and a shop with gifts and books on countryside and buildings themes.  The modern Downland Gridshell houses the Museum’s building conservation centre and artefact collection. There is a daily tour at 1.30pm when the Museum is open, and an appointments system for visits to the collections for research purposes.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Reporters and photographers are welcome at the Museum. For further information call the Museum information line on 01243 811348 or contact Cathy Clark, Marketing Officer

Tel: 01243 811014.
Fax: 01243 811475
Email: marketing@wealddown.co.uk.

Full details about the Museum and its activities can be found at www.wealddown.co.uk 

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