Wilsons Tales – Page 4 – Wilson's Tales of the Borders

Revival Event – The Adventures of Launcelot Errington and his Nephew Mark: A Tale of Lindisferne.

Our fifth live event, “The Adventures of Lancelot Errington and his Nephew Mark: A Tale of Lindisferne.“, presented with Berwick 900 by Northumberland Theatre Company with support from John Nicholls from the Northumbrian 15 Jacobite society was well received and attracted our largest audience yet of over 70.

The event features an introduction to Wilson’s Tales and the Wilson’s Tales Project by Andrew Ayre, Project Director, “The historic context of the rising and the tale” by John Nicholls MBE, Chairman, The Fifteen (The Northumbrian Jacobite Society) and the Northumberland Theatre Company’s performance of “Launcelot Errington and his Nephew Mark: A Tale of Lindisferne.”

The Northumberland Theatre company are already receiving rave reviews for their latest production, “A Wife or the Gallows” from which from which “Launcelot Errington and his Nephew Mark: A Tale of Lindisferne.” is extracted.

“Six amazing actors – seven if you include the stage manager – and one brilliant show. This must mean the Northumberland Theatre Company’s latest production is under way … My favourite story was the Northumbrian tale of Launcelot Errington and his Nephew Mark … ” – Michael Pearson, Northumberland Gazette.

2nd Revival Edition Now Available!

It follows a similar format to one we developed last year, this time with 6 tales, edited and updated for modern readers with companion pieces about the historic background events and the extent to which the tale follows these.

Two tales are of love and devotion set against harsh backgrounds. Two are swashbuckling local adventures and the final two are based on a wider canvas of Scottish adventures abroad.

The first chapter in what will become a biography of Wilson and the tales is also included.

There has been growing community involvement in the project with 12 contributors this year providing a mixture of updated versions of the tales, research, photographs old and new and reproductions of some of the original illustrations.

The book can now be purchased at Grieves, Berwick Tourist Information office and The Barn at Beal. We can also post out to those of you further afield price £8.50, including postage. Please send a cheque payable to “The Wilsons Tales Project” and return address label.

We will now start on planning edition 3. This includes working this year with Berwick Rotary and The Berwick Literary Festival where we have provided the theme for this year’s schools writing competition; write a more contemporary “Tale of the Borders“, as the last ones dated from before 1840. The 3 winners of the age categories will have their stories published as part of next year’s edition and will become published authors as their prize.

September 2015 Shop Display

For the month of September we have a shop front display on Berwick high street in the former Country Casuals shop, promoting what we are up to. This includes the first public outing of some of our display and information panels.

We are also starting to successfully be awarded be awarded small amounts of funding for the project, in particular to build up towards our “pop up museum” concept for 2016, including various tales captured on audio visual formats for retelling to audiences in a listening room.

May 2015 and Forwards…

We also continue to discover further editions of the tales. The photograph is of a reprint in 1887 as part of the “Kenilworth library” series. A selection of what were considered to be literary classics from the back catalogue of the time.

Our March “revival” life event was a success and again attracted an audience of around 60.

We have been awarded some funding from the ‘Pen and Palette’ fund and the ‘AONB’ programme to let us make a start on producing some more professional display material for the project and make a start recording some of the retelling of the tales for future repeat use. More on all this latter. We still await a further funding decision on this.

The first of our revival editions of The Tales is close to selling out with only limited copies now available.

Exciting research from one of our readers has recently suggested that Wilson’s tales may have actually contained the first ‘who dun it’. This has traditionally been attributed to Allan Edgar Poe in literary circles for his short story ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’, first published in 1846. A tale which one suspects Conan Doyle largely lifted his ‘Sherlock and Watson’ characters from and it the unexpected twist in the tale was that it was an Ourang-Outang that did it!

However the tale of ‘The Forger’, written by Alexander Campbell and published in 1835 as part of The Tales, predates this and contains all the aspects we would recognise as a ‘who dun it’ or ‘detective story’.

Finally a date for the Diary. Northumberland Theatre Company are bringing their stage version of ‘Lancelot Errington: A Tale of Lindisfarne’ to the Berwick area in October. It will be told in the Town Hall on the 10th October with a background talk on the event it depicts, the Jacobite 1715 uprising.

It will also be presented as part of a suite of 6 tales as part of ‘A Wife of the Gallows & Other Tales’ at Paxton House on the 11th October and then tour to other venues.

Our profile continues to rise. Our revival edition was reviewed in ‘Scottish Field’ and we were recently invited to and attended the Wigton Spring Book festival.

Fourth revival event on 15th March 2015 at the Guildhall, Berwick-upon-Tweed

A second opportunity to enjoy ‘The Monomanic’ (the photograph is of the cast taken in the Picture Gallery at Paxton House at the time of the first performance in November 2014.)

Mary Kenny , a professional storyteller , will be retelling ‘Judith the Egyptian’. Mary had the following to say about the tale and her preparation:

“You may wipe images of pyramids and sand dunes from your mind’s eye, for this is a tale closer to home and of a different grandeur, of a proud race whose name is connected with the small town of Kirk Yetholm – Royal seat of the King of the Gypsies. Set amongst the towering Eilden Hills, and along the banks of the Tweed, this romantic story of love and pride winds, inevitably as the river runs to the sea, to a dramatic and fateful conclusion. My task as an oral storyteller working with this extraordinary, encyclopaedic collection of tales is to adapt what can be difficult and outmoded written language, and re-interpret the story sensitively for telling to a new audience.”

Re-written as short plays by retired Eyemouth GP Michael Fenty are “The Monomaniac” an early description of post-traumatic stress and the events giving rise to it during an eventful trip to India. And “The Monks of Drybrugh”, presented in radio style by the Duns players provides an amusing finale to the evening. Both of the latter tales have been

Future events in 2015.

1st May at the Wigton Spring Book festival, where Morag Eaton’s “Red Hall” prints will also be exhibited.

In October 2015 we have the launch of ‘Revival edition, Volume 2’ at the Berwick Literary Festival , which will be an expanded edition, containing 6 tales with companion pieces on the historic context and the first chapter of a biography on Wilson and the Tales.

The Fifth Revival event is a re-telling of the true tale of the seizure of Lindisfarne castle as part of the 1715 Jacobite uprising on the 300th anniversary of the event. Look forward to ‘Lancelot Errington and his nephew Mark; A tale of Lindisferne’. A joint collaboration between The Berwick 900 Project, Northumberland Theatre Company and the Northumbrian Jacobite society.

Wilsons Tales Project Revival event no.4 – ‘Tales of Honour, Humour & Horror.’

We are pleased to announce details of our fourth “revival” event presenting a retelling of a selection of tales. These are attracting a growing audience with over 60 attending our last 2 events and the Paxton event selling out. To the left is the cast of ‘The Monomanic’ taken in the Picture Gallery at Paxton House at the time of the first performance in November 2014.

Our next event will be at Berwick Town (Guild) Hall on 15th March at 7-30, so reserve the date now. Tickets will shortly be available through the Maltings.

The format of this event and tales included will be:

Introduction to the evening and update on the Wilsons tales project – Andrew Ayre

‘Judith the Egyptian’. A tale gypsies and romance gone wrong set in the Norham area, recited by professional story teller Mary Kenny.

‘The monks of Drybrugh’. As a radio style play. This a humorous tale adapted by Dr Michael Fenty and presented by the Duns players.

‘The Monomaniac’. This is a second presentation of the performance at Paxton of a very strong piece of drama covering the misadventures of a young bride arising on a passage to India and the consequences of this. This again has been adapted as a play by Dr Michael Fenty. It is produced by Joe Lang , stars the talented young actress Abigail Hood, who responded to our public appeal for someone to step forward and fill the role, with Joe, Jackie Kaines and Stuart Faed in supporting roles. We are delighted to give a wider audience a second chance to see this.

‘A follow up email will follow with a link to the Maltings box office when ticket sales up and running , but please reserve the date now! Please also pass on details to anyone you think may be interested, as with a zero marketing budget , we do very much rely on word of mouth and spreading of the event by Followers and supporters.

‘Nautical Tales’ at Paxton House on Sunday 26th October 2014

This event is focusing on a selection of nautical tales. Program as attached and further reports from the producers below.

Mary Kenny , one of the star performers from our first Paxton is presenting the tale and song “Tibby Fowler”.
“Tibbie Fowler of the story and Tibbie Fowler of the well -known song share little but the name- and well, perhaps a heap of gold, and certainly a bunch of very suspect suitors!
But the woman herself is very different. In Wilson’s story she cuts a romantic and resourceful figure in a tale of rags and riches as her fortunes are swept up in the stormy sea of life. Yet her namesake in song is portrayed as a proud and haughty flirt!
There are traces in the land and in history to which both characters have a claim, though fifty or more miles separates them.

However, both get an airing here, and you may make your own minds up…maybe the song was written by one of those false lovers midst the sour grapes of jealousy?”

The Belford Players are presenting “The Prisoner of War” adapted as a multi media presentation by Christine Fletcher.
“Successful first read through with our two best women and they were able to find things in the characters which I’d never even thought about…so, that’s good.
The performance will run for 30 minutes….first 10 will be information/talk/establishing character/setting…..then variety with action and singing….then last 10 minutes we make use of projected images of ships/carnage on deck at time to support spoken words.. ”

Joe Lang and friends will be presenting the “Monomaniac”. adapted as a play by Dr Michael Fenty.
“This is a tale which portrays the very real threats and traumas and adventure’s that befell ordinary people as they travelled to various parts of the globe as Britain’s global influence and Empire days spread. It also is perhaps one of the first attempts to describe what we would now recognise as “post-traumatic stress”. It will be a very intimate presentation in the confines of one of Paxton’s period bedrooms.”

The event will involve a promenade through the house with he three plays being told in different rooms. Paxton will be offering the chance to purchase refreshment at appropriate moments in the proceedings.

Hope to see you there.

30 March 2014 – Red Hall and Royal Raid – Guildhall, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Over 50 people enjoyed the event at Berwick’s historic Guildhall on the anniversary of the fall of Berwick 718 years ago. The evening consisted of;

“The Red Hall; Berwick 1296” – An interpretation through paper-plate relief prints by local artist Morag Eaton, which told the tale of the siege and sacking of Berwick by King Edward I. Morag Eaton gave a talk on her work, the tale and her interpretation.

“The Royal Raid” – Adaption of a short play by retired local Doctor Michael Fenty, based on an interpretation of the story behind the earlier Border Ballad “The Border Widow”, which was sung at the end of the event.

“The Siege” – a work in progress – Joe Lang from the Berwick 900 Project gave us an update on his project to update “The Siege”, which deals with Edward III’ s siege of Berwick. ‘The Siege’ will be presented in 2016. There was also a general update about the 900 Project.

“The Border Widow” – A Border ballad sung to round off the event

The New Year, and beyond!

The Wilson’s Tales project has announced its first event for 2014 as part of its ongoing plans to support the retelling of The tales in contempory ways to modern audiences.

The first event is to be held at Berwick’s Historic Guildhall on the 30th March. There will be two principal presentations.

Firstly , local artist Morag Eaton’s interpretation through screen prints of “The Red Hall; Berwick 1296”, which tells one of the earliest Tales in the collection. It covers the siege and sacking of Berwick by King Edward 1. At the time it was held by Alexander 111 of Scotland who gave trading rights to the Flemish in return for defence of the town. The tale tells us that Berwick was a far more prosperous than London, which had none of Berwick’s natural advantages. The tale involves an interrupted wedding and the fierce battle to defend the town. The first of Morag’s prints showing the arrival of the English Fleet coming round Lindisfarne has already been completed and she will give a talk on her work , the tale and her interpretation . The 30th March has been deliberately chosen as it coincides with the anniversary of the fall of Berwick 718 years ago.

There will then be the chance to view the works on display in the Town Hall, before returning to see the second presentation.

This will be of the tale “The Royal Raid”, which deals with King James V attempts to bring the Border Reivers under control and order to the lawless “Debatable Lands”. This will be presented as an adaption as a short play by retired local Doctor Michael Fenty. Michael approached the project saying he had written three plays based on the tales some years ago but never produced them. The Wilsons tales project have been delighted to collaborate to provide an opportunity to premier this work. The Tale is based on an interpretation of the story behind the earlier Border Ballad “The Border Widow” , which will be sung at the end of the event.

The first tales published after Wilson’s death in 1835 were also written by a local Doctor from Coldingham, a Dr Carr so it somehow fitting this new presentation should also come from a doctor living in Coldingham.

The event is being jointly presented with the Berwick 900 project. Joe Lang is presently working or an update to Wilsons Tale “The Siege”, which deals with Edward 111′ s subsequent return and siege of the town, which will be presented in 2016 as part of the Berwick 900 project. Joe will give an update on his project and the 900 project generally.

Robert Wilkinson “interested in telling the Tale of Wilson himself”

We caught up with Robert Wilkinson, local playwright, after his succesful run at the Maltings with The Words in the Wires. Rob will be presenting his latest piece, an interpretation of The Lawyer’s Tale: Lord Kames’s Puzzle from Wilson’s Tales at Paxton House on Saturday. Tickets are available from the Maltings

The Wilson’s Tales Project (WT): Are you excited to perform at the Paxton Literary Festival?

Robert Wilkinson (RW)”Yes. And that’s not because my brain is hardwired to equivocate the word “festival” with “beer”.”

WT: Have you performed at Paxton House before?

RW: “Never. I don’t really perform all that much anymore. My memory is so lousy these days – can’t keep the lines in my head. I pretty much have to have them tattooed to the inside of my eyelids.”

WT: Anna Emmins, a.k.a Electric Penelope, said she was excited to see “Lord Kames’s Puzzle” because she says you are “a fabulous writer”. Are you excited to hear her song, “The Ballad of the World’s Vanity”?

RW: “I am deeply flattered that Anna would say such a thing and I’m a massive fan of Anna’s music. I heard a small sample of the song at her home and it sounded wonderful.”

WT: How are you getting on with “Lord Kames’s Puzzle”?

RW: “It took me a while to find out how to tell the story in a dramatically interesting way that would appeal to a modern audience. I had to rest it on the back-burner for a short while during the run up to The Words in the Wire but things are slotting together fine now.”

WT: How is “Lord Kames’s Puzzle” different from your other work?

RW: “I tend to write fairly romantically- swashbuckling aspirational idealistic characters who reach high and fall short… this story isn’t that at all- it’s very Hitchcock/Twilight Zone plot driven thriller. It’s a nice change of pace and a bit of a challenge.”

WT: Why did you decide to take on this challenge?

RW: “Simply, to see if I could. There’s always a danger that you can pigeonhole yourself as a writer. This was a way of finding a new string for my bow so-to-speak. I also rarely write with a set deadline. I’ve been spoiled in that all my other works have been held back until I think they’re ready… this time I didn’t have that luxury.”

WT: Would you be interested in doing more work for The Wilson’s Tales Project in the future?

RW: “I would be interested in telling the tale of Wilson himself. He has the feel of a modern historical bard. His tales would be told to the family brought together by the fireside on a Sunday evening. That’s a special thing and a heroic thing to do. To create something that brings people together is a very precious magic.”

WT: Have you read any of the Tales yourself (apart from “Lord Kames’s Puzzle” of course)?

RW: “Sadly not, I have been so busy working on several other projects that I rarely get the chance to read anymore. Reading was always a big passion for me. Thank God for bad ’80’s television or I may never have read a thing.”