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Double Act was pleased to stage their main production for 2002 - |
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| The World Premier of
A tale of smuggling, quarrying and romance set in Napoleonic Purbeck.......... |
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Performances took take place on:- Thursday 21st November 2002 Friday 22nd November 2002 Saturday 23rd November 2002 |
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| Storm Child was set in 1803 in the quarrying community of Langton and Worth. Two local families are anticipating a closer bond by the marriage of their respective son and daughter, just as soon as the young man has completed his apprenticeship and becomes a freeman of the Guild of Masons and Stonecutters. | ||
| Whilst the men and boys risked their lives toiling below ground to extract the famous Purbeck limestone, the social reformer, William Morton Pitt of Encombe, had opened local cordage and straw plait factories to provide work for the local populace. Britain was at war with France and there was an ever present fear of invasion. Napoleon was even rumored to have landed at Lulworth Cove whilst his ships were blockading the channel to prevent trade with Europe. However there was a constant flow of contraband that both governments seemed to turn a blind eye to. The isolated coastline of Purbeck provided many secluded landing sites and hiding places, smuggling was rife! The Wareham riding officer, Nathaniel Florence, tried to enforce the law but his repeated entreaties for military assistance to combat the Purbeck smuggling bands fell on deaf ears! |
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| Alice Corben and Tom Turner were the betrothed
couple who were hoping to make a life together in this time of social and political
turmoil. We all became worried that the long shadows of the French Revolution and the
wreck of the Halsewell cast their spells over their happiness...... Many factual events and incidents were woven together in Storm Child as Double Act paid tribute to the quarrymen of Purbeck by reflecting their life and times at a particular point in history in an entertaining and dramatic manner suitable for all the family. Peter Smith - Chairman of Double Act |
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| ......... and so, to a pictorial record of Double Act at work with STORM CHILD! | |
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Photo page links >> |
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