LEGEND OF MOLLY LEIGH REASSESSED
Interactive musical about local Burslem legend
A NEW musical taking place in Stoke-ontrent this weekend will pose the question ‘Who is Molly Leigh?
That question – at an event staged between B Arts and musician Francesca Le Lohe and lyric writer Gareth Mattey – will be tested by participants on three days beginning tomorrow.
After a successful Arts Council project grant, Francesca, Gareth and B arts have been awarded funding to create an interactive musical about the local legend of accused Burslem witch Molly Leigh.
As well as exploring Molly’s story, the project will explore women’s stories, stories of difference and social exclusion.
Across the weekend participants will be invited to join a community choir led by local choir leader Mary Keith.
They can also take part in story sharing, creative writing and poetry workshops with British writer and activist Jasmine Gardosi, and be involved in acting in, and creating the set for the test show at the end of the weekend at B Arts with a team of local creatives.
Songs and scenes created by Francesca and Gareth will be workshopped and tested out by local actors and the choir, and then performed to an invited audience on the Sunday at 4pm.
A community choir of women, non-binary and trans people will represent Burslem-born Molly Leigh.
Audiences will choose their own route through the B Arts building, listening to three local performers (Evangeline Grace Cooper, Cynthia Coady and Dan Stubbs) tell people about Molly from different viewpoints, before being surrounded by the Molly chorus.
Francesca Le Lohe said: “What struck me when first reading about Molly Leigh is that everything we ‘know’ about her has been shaped by the perspective of others.
“There is no firsthand account from Molly and everything which has become legend has been informed by superstition, sexist and ableist attitudes and the male religious leader’s sermons.
“I want to create a piece which encourages people to see things from Molly’s perspective.
“It will be a feminist re-telling which creates space for audiences to form their own interpretations from a broader picture than the narrow story which has been told until now.”
Gareth Mattey said: “There is an open invitation; to learn more about a curiosity of local history in a new way, to have fun with the game-like structures such an immersive performance can offer, to listen anew to new music in new contexts, to reflect on the damage gossip and slander can have, and to see the world from Molly Leigh’s perspective.”
The event is taking place at B Arts, 72 Hartshill Road in Stoke-on-trent.