The Ballad of Barrow Market

A film made by Signal Film and Media documenting the performances of The Ballad of Barrow Market being performed by members of the Ashton Theatre Group to a live audience in Barrow Market.

Writers

The Script was created in writing workshops led by Kate Davies for Signal Film and Media and were inspired by photographs, objects, film, sounds and memories of Barrow Markets, old and New. Stories are not documentaries of Barrow’s History but rather inspired by folk memory.

Banana King – Ravi Jeydendren, Caleb Staples and Ellis Dunn

Demolition – Jean McSorley

Milliners Tales – Brenda Fishwick

Vintage Advantage – Derek Bradley

Unmentionables – David Clancy

One Cherry – Craig Lockhead

The ideas from which the stories evolved were explored and developed by the whole group. Ballads were also written by the whole group. Polly Wright created and wrote the character of Bethany and the characters The Bell Man and the Market Official were created by Vicky Tighe. Christine Lee’s, Duncan Macmillan, Lee Wicks contributed towards the final script.

Research material included: The Evening Mail Archive, Barrow Local Archive and Study Centre and The Elizabeth Roberts Oral History Archive.

Cast

The mystery shopper, compare and guide to the Market Ballad Phill Gregg

Bell man Eric Nelson

Bethany Bridget O’Brien

Council Official Dan Hardie

Shopper Chris Wilson, Catherine Taylor

Banana King

Banana King Nathan Powell

Boris the butcher Conrad Birchall

Demolition

Mary Douglas Tracy Jones

Radio Cumbria Reporter Robbie Bown

The Milliner’s Tale

Rosie Nicole Rose

Jilly Tara Edwards Doughty

Nan Chrissie Bentley

Vintage Advantage

Vikki Karen Hall

Ernest Jon Bissett

Abigail Nicole Rose

Unmentionables

Kellie Kelly Tara Edwards Doughty

One Cherry

Andy Damien Rose