Who Is Molly Leigh?
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Who Is Molly Leigh?
Who Is Molly Leigh is a brand new opera between B arts and musician Francesca Le Lohe and writer Gareth Mattey, that will be tested by participants across the weekend of 10/11/12 May 2024 at B arts in Stoke.
After a successful Arts Council Project Grant, Francesca, Gareth and B arts have been awarded funding to test out creating 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 women, non-binary, trans people and those from the LGBTQ+ community are invited to join a community choir led by local choir leader Mary Keith, and everyone is welcome to 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.
Through music & storytelling, in the workshops – which will take place at B arts base, 72 Hartshill Road, Stoke, ST4 7RB - we will explore local history from the perspective of women and those excluded by society for being ‘different’. Over 3 days, participants recruited from community groups affiliated with B arts and LQBTQ+ partner organisations will discuss the project’s themes in facilitated sessions.
Songs and scenes created by Francesca & Gareth will be workshopped and tested out by local actors and the choir, and then performed to an invited audience on the Sunday afternoon 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 3 local performers (Evangeline Grace Cooper, Cynthia Coady and Dan Stubbs) tell us about Molly from different viewpoints, before being surrounded by the Molly chorus.
What to expect from the workshops
Over 3 days, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May 2024, we will discuss the project’s themes, take part in storytelling and writing workshops, learn songs & script created by composer Francesca & writer Gareth, which will then performed to an invited ‘test’ audience at the end of the weekend.
A community choir of women, non-binary and trans people will form a choir to represent Molly Leigh. We welcome everyone to be part of workshops, the acting group and to be part of the set design & build team.
Molly Leigh
Detailed Timetable
Friday 10th May
Arrival from 4pm
Afternoon Tea
4.30pm Welcome, Introduction to the project, introduction to the team, housekeeping
Walk through of the show plan
5-6pm Workshop and discussion on Molly Leigh, and the key themes of the project
6-7.30pm Split into choir, acting team, set building team
7.30pm Wrap up, outline plan for the next day, feedback and reflection
Saturday 11th May
Arrival 10am
10.30am Continue working in choir, acting team, set building team
11.30-1pm - Storytelling, creative writing and poetry workshop with Jasmine Gardosi
1-2pm Lunch
2-3.30pm Rehearsal of pub scene with actors, choir and set build team continue to rehearse
3.30-3.45pm Break
4-4.45pm Put the show together, run through all key scenes
4.45pm Wrap up, outline plan for the next day, feedback and reflection
Sunday 12th May
Arrival 10am
10.30am Rehearsals for everyone, set building team final tweaks
12pm Dress Rehearsal with all tech
1-2pm Lunch
2-3.30pm Final rehearsals
3.30-3.45pm Break
4pm Showcase with audience
5-6pm Feedback with audience and participants, wrap up and thanks
Get involved ahead of time!
Important information
Where
B arts, 64-72, Hartshill Road, ST47RB.
Entrance via the Bread in Common Café.
When
Friday 10th May 4.30pm-8pm
Saturday 11th May 10-5pm
Sunday 11th May 10-6pm
Getting to us:
The number 25 bus stops outside our building
Car Parking
There is no car park at B arts.
Vale St Car Park, ST4 7RL
Aquinas St Car Park, ST4 1NQ
Please do not park over the road at St Andrews Square this is for residents only. Please respect our neighbours.
Please keep our forecourt free for loading and unloading. We have limited accessible spaces please contact Kath Stanway to reserve - kath.stanway@b-arts.org.uk // 07544814720
Food and Drink
Afternoon Tea and Refreshments are provided on Friday and Refreshments and lunch are provided on Saturday and Sunday. If you are planning on attending and have specific dietary requirements please contact Kath Stanway - kath.stanway@b-arts.org.uk // 07544814720
Access:
The workshops are suitable for those aged 16+
The singing/choir for this project is suitable for women, non-binary and trans people.
Workshops and performances are fully accessible by anyone using a wheelchair.
The audience are standing throughout, however if you need any further assistance or information please contact Kath on 07544814720 or
All workshops are free. Refreshments and lunch are provided. We can help participants with travel expenses.
Meet the Team!
Francesca Le Lohé
Bio: Francesca Le Lohé (she/her) is a composer & community musician originally from Stoke-on-Trent, active in the UK and Japan. She strives to make ambitious music-based projects which provoke awareness and discussion, bringing together the experience and skills of multiple people across disciplines and cultures. Operas include: “How Was It For You?”, exploring themes of Relationship and Sex Education within Japan and the UK (Tokyo, May 2022); "THE KEY": an immersive, site-specific opera inspired by Tanizaki's novella, featuring a mixture of Japanese and Western artforms (2019 “Keizo Saji Prize”. Tokyo & London, 2018 & 2019). Her work has been performed by Ensemble Zar, GBSR duo, Psappha, Red Note ensemble etc, and featured in Sonorities, Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival and the London Festival of Architecture.
About the project: I'm Fran Le Lohé, the composer and co-director of 'Who Is Molly Leigh?'. I first had the idea for this project when I read about Molly Leigh in the book 'Paranormal Stoke-on-Trent' and I wondered how Molly would have told her own story in her own words. I'm so excited to be partnering with B arts and a host of wonderful artists and participants from the community to piece together a rich story of Molly Leigh for audiences to uncover!
Gareth Mattey
Gareth (they/them) is the Librettist and Co-Director for 'Who is Molly Leigh?'. Originally from the Wirral in the North West (and just recently returned from living in Tokyo in Japan), they work as a writer for opera, theatre, film and interactive media, and are constantly excited to work with stories that re-tell and re-explore old myths and legends, that are driven by music and explore new spaces for musical performance, and that give space for queer voices to be heard - exactly the kind of story that they hope 'Who is Molly Leigh?' will be! They are incredibly excited to be collaborating with Fran, with B Arts and with anyone and everyone eager to contribute to bring this local legend to life.
Kath Stanway
I'm Kath Stanway (she/her) and I am the Creative Producer on the project 'Who Is Molly Leigh'. My background is in theatre and I'm really excited to be working on this project and to explore the material created by Fran and Gareth to bring the story of the Burslem 'witch' Molly Leigh to life.
I'm most looking forward to meeting new people across the weekend, working on the songs and exploring the themes, and I can't wait to see the final showcase moment at the end of the weekend!
I’ll be there all weekend, and participants can come to me with anything they need to make their experience more comfortable.
Jasmine Gardosi
Jasmine Gardosi is the Birmingham Poet Laureate and Honorary Doctor of Letters. She is a multiple slam champion, beatboxer, winner of the Out-Spoken Prize for Poetry and winner of the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Performer 2023. Her work exploring identity, LGBTQ issues and mental health has appeared on Button Poetry, at the Tate Modern, Glastonbury Festival, Symphony Hall and BBC. She was featured on Sky Arts' BAFTA-winning show Life & Rhymes and her poem about the pandemic, filmed on a rollercoaster, was broadcast across America on PBS. She was recently invited by the British Embassy in Tallinn to headline Estonia’s historic, first ever queer poetry slam for Baltic Pride.
She is a previous Writer in Residence at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, Poet in Residence at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and BBC Arts Young Creative. Her poetry/beatbox/Celtic dubstep show ‘Dancing To Music You Hate’ explores gender identity and was commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre. After premiering to standing ovations, it won Best Spoken Word Show in the Saboteur Awards and its titular track was performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, broadcast on BBC Four. Following a sold-out show at Symphony Hall, the show toured the UK this summer.
"I'm excited to be part of this intriguing project that explores themes of gender and marginalisation close to my heart. As a poet who loves working with music, I am thrilled to bring my offerings as a spoken word performer and facilitator into the sphere of choral arts."
@jasminegardosi
jasminegardosi.com
Image Courtesy of Neal Kemsley
Cynthia Coady
I’m Cynthia (she/her) and I’m an actress on the project Who Is Molly Leigh? I’m a skilled filmmaker with a background in performing arts and happy to be a part of this project. I’m curious about witchcraft and can’t wait to explore this theme and more with Fran and Gareth. I’m excited to work on the music and acting, to bring to life the story of the Burslem witch.
Dan Stubbs
I'm Dan, a 29 year old person based in Stone, Staffordshire. I am a BA Maths/Music graduate and have played the piano and trumpet, and sung from an early age. I have worked as a freelance musician and producer since I graduated, but also have a career in marketing. Most recently I have been a member of Stone Revellers, performing in and musically directing several recent shows. I am also an LGBTQ+, social impact and wellbeing advocate.
Evangeline Grace Cooper
I am a professional actress and model from Stoke-on-Trent. I have been working on different projects with B-Arts since 2020, such as walk about performances and more recently co-hosting B-Arts Scratch Night with The ArtsHill Performers. While performing within the Molly Leigh project I am interested to explore the history, the topic of the work and how people of difference can sometimes be judged.
“Actors should be able to play any role without been judged.”
Dan Jaworski-Higgs
Hi I'm Dan Jaworski-Higgs (He/him). I'm the lighting designer and set fabricator for the Who Is Molly Leigh project I'm looking forward to working with new artists and exploring the story of local legend of Molly Leigh.
Katy Goodwin
I'm Katy Goodwin (she/her) and I'm the Set Designer on the project 'Who Is Molly Leigh’.
I’m an associate artist at B arts and have a background in theatre design. I’m excited to design for a non-traditional theatre space and looking forward to being a part of the creative team bringing Molly Leigh’s story to life.
Mary Keith
Mary Keith is a free lance musician and choir leader based in rural North Shropshire. She has written and directed many vocal scores for theatre shows and community events and currently directs The Keele Women's Community Choir, The Mere singers and the Morning Sun singers in Shropshire. She is delighted to be leading the community chorus in Molly Leigh, and is always excited to see what happens when you bring many disparate, individual voices together.