Back To The Market: The Beggar's Opera: A Play in a Day with Samantha Remnant (FREE)

Create a play in a day based on the first English musical and powerful satire on political corruption.

Experience the joy of creating theatre! Come and have fun devising the dialogue, sorting the costumes, writing the songs and setting the stage, with the final performance at the end of the day. Create a play in a day based on the first English musical and powerful satire on political corruption.

The Beggar's Opera was written by John Gay who was born in Barnstaple and went to school at St Annes in the early 1700’s. Many people have done their own versions and sang the songs- from David Bowie to Duke Ellington. Now it’s your turn!This workshop is suitable for ages 8 to 16. Parents are not required to stay with their children, but we encourage you to join us at 2:45pm to see the final performance!

We are able to provide travel bursaries to help you attend this activity. These will be paid in cash on the day you attend. Please book your space on Eventbrite and contact [email protected] to confirm how much you require.

This event is part of our 'Back To The Market' project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.'Back To The Market' investigates the heritage of Barnstaple Pannier Market, concentrating on three key areas of research: the events around Oswald Mosley’s talk that took place in Barnstaple Pannier Market in 1934, Jeremy Thorpe’s wedding reception that took place in Barnstaple Pannier Market in 1968, and The Beggar’s Opera written in 1728 by John Gay who was born in Barnstaple. The exhibition (on from 4th November to 19th December) features three commissions by artists Jessica Akerman, Cecily Loveys Jervoise and Graham Taylor, who have been exploring these three areas and contemporary issues revolving around them more broadly.

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to deliver a year-long project that provides research opportunities, fun activities for the community, and the chance for people to think more deeply about what the Pannier Market means to our area.