??? (??????????? ??????? ?????) are performing – DNA, by Dennis Kelly. 6th-7th July ‘? ????? ?? ????????? ?? ????????? ???, ?????? ???, ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??. ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????-?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ?????, ????? ?? ??? ????????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????.’ SPY are Saddleworth Players of the future and we’re keen to ensure that they learn stagecraft, as well as technical […]
by Aimee Belmore Saddleworth Independent (original published by Saddleworth Independent 22/6/22) THE curtain is rising on a new season of theatre, drama, music, films and thrilling entertainment at the Millgate Arts Centre in Delph. A Season Preview evening unveiled what lies in store for audiences, and also marked the launch of the Millgate Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Saddleworth Players, which was launched in 1927, moved into the theatre 50 years ago after previously being based in […]
Last night we raised £1000 for Saddleworth Churches in Uppermill and Greenfield with a charity evening for Singers not Sinners, attending a sell out performance. Do you have a charity that would like to raise money with Saddleworth Players? The Millgate Arts centre is a creative hub in beautiful surroundings. We feel lucky to have this wonderful facility in the heart of Saddleworth and to be able to support the performing arts and community theatre. […]
Review of Singers not Sinners By Helen Rigby Singers not Sinners is a new play, co-written by local writers Livi Michael and Carol Davies, and set in 1701. It’s the true story of the first three women in England to sing in a church choir, right here at St Mary’s Parish Church, Oldham. At the start of the play we hear the male voices of the Christian tradition forbidding women to sing in church. But […]
Carol Davies interviewed by Stacey Copeland on BBC Radio Manchester about the play Singers not Sinners and how three women changed history when they sang for the first time in a church choir, in 1701, in Oldham Manchester
When I first read Singers not Sinners I loved the story of the first time women sang in a church choir. The prejudices of 1701 puritan Oldham reminded me that equality is something hard won. Mark and I jumped at the opportunity to take this script and bring the angelic sounds of the choir to life in the acoustics of Millgate Arts Centre. We’ve been involved in the musical rehearsals working with the musical director […]
Writing novels is solitary work. You have to enjoy doing independent research and sitting in front of the PC for months or even years. If you’re lucky, at the end of 2/3 years of drafting and re-drafting, someone else may read it, but until then, the characters, the words and the scenes really only exist in your own mind. The process of putting a play together could hardly be more different. Collaborative throughout, it develops […]
In 1701, the date around which our play Singers not Sinners is based, religion played an integral role everyday people’s lives. Sketches of Oldham in this period show a largely rural landscape, a few scattered cottages and St. Mary’s Church, on the crest of the hill, dominating its surroundings. With the church central to much of the action in the play, it seemed fitting that we use the interior as a backdrop for photographs of […]
We love a good challenge down in the costume store, and Singers not Sinners presented us with challenges in spades. Not only is it set in 1701 – a time when linen, wool and leather ruled the day, but the cast of 16 has expanded to include extras for the town scenes, bringing us to a total of 21 actors and singers to be clothed in an authentic and credible way. Having passed the script […]
Hi, I’m Ian Ball and I’m playing the role of Elias Hall the choirmaster at St. Mary’s parish church in Oldham. Set in 1701 ‘Singers not Sinners’ tells the true story of how Elias Hall convinces the vicar and the Bishop of Chester to allow women to sing in church, something that had been forbidden since the birth of Christianity. It was a dangerous task and he could have been severely punished for his actions. […]