Four decades of drama – with strings attached
ATHEATRE company known for its use of puppets and vibrant mask work in its storytelling is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
The Horse and Bamboo Theatre Company, which is based in the former Liberal Club building on Bacup Road in Waterfoot, was founded in 1978 as a touring theatre by visual artist Bob Frith, who is still involved with the company. Bosses are currently planning anniversary celebrations for the company, whose theatre home is known as ‘The Boo’.
They hope to run a series of shows and exhibitions celebrating the performances of the last four decades.
Esther Ferry-Kennington, executive director at The Boo, says the theatre has a vast archive of old photographs, props and costumes and that her team hope to uncover as much of the group’s history as possible.
She added: “We’re applying for funding at the moment, and the scale of the plans are largely funding-dependant.
“One of the things we are trying to do is to go through some of the old photographs and find out who worked at the theatre and who was involved in the group in the early days and bring them back.”
Waterfoot has become something of a hub for the arts, as the town has attracted several creative enterprises.
Esther says that former industrial buildings and spaces are attractive to artists as they have plenty of large, unused areas that can be used for a variety of creative projects.
She said: “There is a little hub of artists’ studios and the Arthouse design company based here.
“There’s a thing about northern towns where they have these industrial buildings - artists can use these spaces which noone else really does.”
The group’s first project, in 1978, was to erect a carved stone memorial to a woman, Helen Strange, murdered on the moors near Holcombe in 1761.
This was accompanied by a street and fire show as part of the Rossendale Carnival Day. The company have produced and toured shows ever since.
The team at the Horse and Bamboo are current crowdfunding for their latest project, a show about Suffragettes using Jiu-Jitsu martial arts which they hope to show in the autumn of this year.
Special packages, including signed artwork and an exclusive meeting with the cast and crew are available to purchase - with funds going towards the production’s costs.
Donations can be made and packages can be purchased from crowdfunder. co.uk/suffrajitsu.