The Wet Web
Helen Gazeley follows the fortunes of two theatres which would normally be travelling the waterways over the summer months.
YEARS from now, there will be the question: “What did you do during lockdown?” Mj Morris, who set up the Widgeon Theatre Boat in 2017, will have an unusual answer.
“Radio hadn’t even crossed my mind,” she says. “I’ve always been live.” But with the lockdown, Mj’s practical side kicked into action. “As soon as I saw what was going on, my initial reaction was I had to go digital.”
It’s been quite a change of pace. Since 2017, The Widgeon has travelled the waterways offering a wide variety of events, including folk, punk and jazz nights, comedy nights, showcases, shadow puppetry and workshops, bringing her quirky venue to towns around the country and events such as the Bristol Shakespeare Festival. “I stage any and all good-quality live music and theatre,” says Mj. “I’ve supported a lot of artists who’ve won awards.”
On May 3, though, Mj – a film producer by trade, used to curating and running shows and events in theatre and circus, and stage managing at Glastonbury – launched Widgeon Airwaves with specialist music shows hosted by a variety of DJs, talk shows and one-off events. A regular programme is Coach on the Boat, a very engaging and entertaining half hour presented by relationship coach Aleysha Walker and her husband Alan Denman on how to have “conscious, conflict-free communication” with your partner (www. widgeontheatreboat.com).
Mj’s looking forward to reopening as soon as possible. “I’ll be selling takeaway drinks and any merchandise I can sell. And if street performers are allowed, then there’s no reason why we’ll not put on shows – we’re outside – if the weather is okay.”
However, Mj doesn’t intend to abandon her new project. “Now I’ve started, I’m not going to give up and, when I can, I’ll have live shows (from the boat) recorded.” Mj’s ideal is to build Widgeon Airwaves into a radio station for boaters. “I’m always looking for talent,” she says, so if you have an idea for a programme or feature, then she’d love to hear from you.
Like some other grass-roots venues during lockdown, Mj has fallen through the cracks in the Government’s support and is championing the #SaveOurVenues campaign, organised by the Music Venue Trust (saveourvenues.co.uk) where you can donate to your favourite venue or contribute to the overall fund, as well as catch up with scheduled free livestreams from bands supporting the campaign.
Up till now, putting ‘narrowboat’ and ‘theatre’ together has, for many, meant only one thing, and that’s the Mikron Theatre Company, founded in 1972 and looking forward to its 50th year in 2021. This year Mikron was booked to play 130 performances but had to take the painful decision to cancel the 2020 season completely.
Artistic director Marianne MacNamara says: “We’re so incredibly sad not to be touring. We looked at every possible combination of touring this year, and in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak spent days exploring different options, but none of them were practical.”
The result is a hole of more than £48,000 in their budget. Needing to raise the money by December to ensure their 50th year happens, they launched a funding campaign at the beginning of July and were overwhelmed to raise more than £8000 in the first week.
You can support them by buying merchandise as well as donating to the appeal on their website. However, for an enjoyable evening in, you can also download the free livestream of All Hands on Deck, following the adventures of two new WRNS recruits during the war and perhaps feel moved to give a donation in appreciation (www.mikron.org.uk)