A Dance to the Music of Wigan

2017 was the 80^th Anniversary of the publication of The Road to Wigan Pier. Based at the wonderful Sunshine House Community Centre, The Orwell Society had a weekend of events. Sunshine House has benefited from the innovative Wigan Deal, which recognises that some funding from the Council backed by enthusiastic volunteers can replace and improve on Council Services, which had to suffer from the reductions in central government funding.

One of those events was a range of local people who use or volunteer at Sunshine House produced a range of drama, poetry and music which they created. The Orwell Society worked with the various people in the town from the Autumn of 2015. The late Barbara Nettleton, the founder and inspiration at Sunshine House, had hoped that the children at the local Primary School could be part of the show. Shortly before the event Barbara realised that the children were not ready and that it would have been unfair to expose them to such a large unknown audience.

At a moment’s notice the hugely enthusiastic and creative local musician Alan Gregory, who was a Trustee at Sunshine House, offered to write a couple of songs and to sing them while he played the piano.

Since then, Alan has written a musical Beyond Wigan Pier on George Orwell, which was presented firstly to a huge audience including local MP and now Secretary of State for Culture, Lisa Nandy in 2018 and in 2022 when The Orwell Society returned a more complete dramatisation was presented to us.

Alan has worked tirelessly to seek ways to get funding to enable talented young people to get high quality musical and drama education and to create a pathway for them to enter the profession and realise their talents.

Hi Richard and Quentin,Am I ecstatic?
Your darn tootin’ I am!!
I’ve been writing the music for an ALL INCLUSIVE ballet syllabus, written by our lovely Donna for the National Charity Dance Syndrome.
It had its first outing on Wednesday with the students at Dance Syndrome……AND THEY LOVED IT!! (as you can see below!!)
I’m now in contract to them to finish the project, record it and publish the music books….for REAL MONEY!!.
This is one of the proudest moments of my life……..and it all started with writing a couple of songs for your visit a few years ago and  £10,000 from The Wigan Deal!!
Thanks Guys!!
Kind regards
Alan

You can learn more about Alan and the great work he does here.

I am delighted that the work we started in Wigan to connect Wigan people and our members has started Alan on the road to such a wonderful outcome, with a lot more to come I am sure.

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Quentin Kopp is Chair of the Orwell Society. His father, Georges Kopp, was George Orwell’s commander in Spain.