Why write about people from near where you & I work, live and love?
I'll try to answer the question in a round about way. Forty years ago as an impressionable sixth former reading The Caucasian Chalk Circle I was struck by the symbolic moment of Bertolt Brecht's play - where Grusha, the hapless and kindly child minder to the local great and good, was compelled to prove who was the best mother by pulling the child she cared for out of the chalk circle after weeks of caring for the baby after her wealthy birth mother had fled her home as soldiers advanced and left the child behind, What to do? And, what a terrible test to be set. And this vivid dilemma and powerful dramatic moment has stayed with me. And as years have rolled on this potent moment of theatre has influenced and informed me at various stages of my life as a brother, young father and more recently as a grandfather. When to push or pull or quietly walk away from the absurdity of it all. And it is here that my trio of amazing local female characters come to mind, again and again. as I was drawn into their colourful life stories from different parts of the Black Country - I was constantly thinking about how they would respond to their own biggest dilemma and difficulty after achieving so much in their lives. For example: Dorothy Round was the capable tennis player from Dudley that conquered Wimbledon, twice, but was thwarted by overwhelming and inescapable forces in her attempt to do the triple. Edna Kirby also faced a huge challenge to her successful leather goods business in Walsall, despite trying to help her largely all female work force who helped propel her company onto the national daily newspapers - for all the wrong reasons. Sylvia King of Sandwell also faced similar unwieldy challenges to her dream of building the biggest people's fun palace in West Bromwich. Their response and way of coping are unique and equally memorable for varying degrees of defiance, acceptance and ingenuity. Just like the response Grusha made, all those years ago. There is more to follow about these three phenomenal characters as the six shows approach and edge closer in 2024. Dates and booking details below and more on the Grusha's Theatre Company tab (top left hand side). Babsolutely Fabulous! A play by Adrian Johnson – summer tour dates Thurs 6 June 7.30pm Central West Bromwich Library Tel 0121 5694100 Fri 7 June 7.30pm Thimblemill Library Tel 0121 5694943 Sat 8 June 2pm Walsall Leather Museum Tel 01922 6528288 Thurs 13 June 7.30pm Dudley Central Library Tel 01384 815560 Fri 14 June 7.30pm Wolverhampton Arena Tel 01902 321321 Sat 15 June 12noon Wednesbury Museum Gallery Tel 0121 5560683 Book your tickets online, here: for West Bromwich Central & Dudley Central Library: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on?q=Babsolutely%20fabulous for Thimblemill Library: Babsolutely Fabulous - Booking by Bookwhen for Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sandwell-museums-and-arts/babsolutely-fabulous/e-gbzjve for Walsall Leather Museum phone or collect your tickets in person only for Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton: Babsolutely Fabulous (ticketsolve.com)
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At times nothing seems to happen then it all appears to happen at once: blessed daughter is close to making me a happy first time grand-daddy, I fall in love in Edinburgh, The Emma Press get in touch to confirm I am shortlisted from 500 to the last 25 contenders for publication of some of my short stories (- yippee!) and my first play receives two lots of good enough feedback at Up to Scratch play performing nights at The Old Birmingham Rep for me to set about making a 7 venue tour happen in June/July 2024. Then, crash, bang, whallop! I come off my bike and shatter my rhs elbow and create quite an impressive (gory) number of black and blue bruises that has me recall the one handed dishwasher, Albert, from ITVs Robin's Nest. Hopefully, it will mend, slowly and sorely. But hey, did I mention a grandchild, possible publication and a seven venue tour of the Black Country? I did and have, phew! More updates to follow - for sure and for sore...
above: interior of the modernised Stirchley Baths and the exterior of Smethwick Baths After 90 years of solid service to the entire community of Smethwick, the Smethwick Baths are under offer for sale by Sandwell MBC and The Peoples Orchestra (based in West Bromwich Town Hall) is known to have expressed an interest in operating in the premises of Smethwick Baths – perhaps with support from the West Midlands Combined Authority and possibly the Heritage Lottery Fund. I also note that local historian, Mary Bodfish, recently recalled that Thimblemill Baths and Smethwick Baths were promised and gifted to the people as one of the benefits of choosing to join with Smethwick Borough Council rather than Birmingham City Council in the early part of the 20th Century. As such it is surely morally incumbent on the local councillors of Abbey Ward (Cllr Piper, Cllr Hinchliff and Cllr Hemingway) and the collective Sandwell M B C to make good and affirm the building and site of Smethwick Baths be retained for the benefit of the public in a commensurate and similar fashion. In Bearwood/Smethwick we have a substantial number of active community groups and organisations which cannot easily or practically operate out of Thimblemill Library and the patchwork quilt of assorted faith buildings and ad hoc shop unit lets that have no wide public remit comparable to the role of Smethwick Baths. There are numerous models of comparison to be made, not least Stirchley Baths which closed in 1988 and finally reopened in 2016 with a £4m Heritage Lottery award as a 21st century community asset with space for small scale cinema, learning new skills, heritage volunteer activities, exhibitions, talks, an educational programme, conference space and local crafts and related markets. It also offers a kitchen space and hires out for weddings too. With all the above being noted I wonder if residents of Bearwood/Smethwick have an appetite to:
See this link for details Community_Right_to_Bid_-_Non-statutory_advice_note_for_local_authorities.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) 2. Invite local Councillors and The Peoples Orchestra to a public meeting in early September 2023 to discuss options and ambitions with the local community This would be held at a venue to be confirmed. 3. Read up and examine all of the related paperwork linked to funding applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund and others. Welcome | The National Lottery Heritage Fund That’s everything really. If you want it you really have to speak up for it, explore and promote the idea to everyone that is remotely concerned so please do ‘like’ this post, share it and get in touch. [email protected] Adrian Johnson, MSc Storyteller and Writer Smethwick Sandwell, UK I am so pleased to share the good news that my friends at Creative Black Country have decided to support a programme of six events in January and February 2023 together with the wonderful Sandwell Libraries, Archives and Museum service. So, swiftly after my autumn tour, I am back sharing stories, yo-yos, snowballs and jumping games together with inspiring and brave tales of great Black Country Heroes that saved the king, invented gas-light and jumped into great adventures and achievements from the West Midlands of England. I look forward sharing more details, but for now the dates and times for you to reserve your free tickets are detailed, below. Also, if you'd like to nominate a local, here and now, community hero to include in the show get in touch by the contact email page of this website or my twitter address: @AdrianBCHeroes. Many thanks and see you soon!
Adrian Johnson I was so thrilled and pleased to have lead the commemorative walk, talk and stand jump finale on Joseph Darby's 160th birthday in his home town of Netherton in Dudley. Everyone was so kind and good humoured and I was very pleased to end the event with a stand jump competition in Netherton park in which Tom Rourke (of Smethwick) came first with a respectable 6'8" Stand Jump followed closely by Barat Patel (of Netherton) and Laurence Hipkiss (of Rowley Regis). I want to also give my appreciative thanks to Ivan Turner for the photos, the Deputy Mayor of Dudley - Cllr Sue Greenaway - for attending and giving out the medals and local Netherton Cllr, Damian Corfield for attending too. I was also pleased to be joined by some new friends from Netherton and members of the Thimbleweed Choir. More fun and games with Joseph Darby beckons - news of which I look forward to sharing with readers as soon as possible. #spiritofjosephdarby160
Join local Netherton teacher and jumptastic Joseph Darby enthusiast and research writer,
Adrian Johnson, at 11am on Friday 6th August, 2021 in Netherton, Dudley at the site of Joseph Darby's commemorative statue - opposite 87 Halesowen Road, DY2 9PY / Old Swan Inn (aka Ma Pardoes). In a free, short, local history walk and talk (suitable for those aged 6 to 76+ years of age) between the statue of Joseph Darby and nearby Netherton Park, starting at 11am, Adrian will recall and share amazing short stories of Netherton's World Champion Stand Jump athlete and Victorian era showman who will be exactly 160 years young on Friday 6th August, 2021. Marvel at the amazing leaps of imagination and faith Joseph Darby made across the UK and around the world beating all comers, including Yankee Mustang Jack and all comers that fancied their chances - and lost! Jump in and join the just for fun finale with all comers that are invited to become honorary Youth (up to 16yrs) and Adult Netherton World Stand Jump Champion for the day - if they can outjump Adrian and anyone else that choses to compete - at a socially distanced, jump for joy and Joseph Darby event at around 12 noon in Netherton park, near the Rose Garden on the Northfield Road entrance side of the park. The event is free to attend and all comers are requested to observe appropriate social distancing and wear a face cover when standing near to anyone not in their social and family group. Contact Adrian Johnson via the contact form page (click the green highlighted text) to register and take part in the 'just for fun' local history walk and talk and stand jump. The organiser reserves the right to accept no more than the first 20 people that express an interest to join in the day at 11am (and finishing at 12.30). The Deputy Mayor of Dudley may also be in attendance and a fun day of amazing local history, amazing leaps of faith and imagination in the spirit of Joseph Darby will be taken once more, with pride in the Black Country and Netherton's amazing Stand Jump champion, Joseph Darby. Public Transport to Netherton: The number 18, 19 or 11 NX bus from Dudley Bus Station leave regularly for Netherton throughout the day and it is an approximate 6 minute short journey. About the history walk leader: Adrian teaches at The Link Academy in Netherton, during school term time, and is a former city of Birmingham Poet Laureate. Credit: Photos by Adrian Johnson. Black and white images and belt photos are courtesy of Dudley Archives and Dudley Museums (2021) |
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