Jack and the Devil's Purse
A
rolling tale full of misfits, miscreants and malingerers!
Jack lives alone with his poor old ma. And like most
young lads his age he's a bit "too bad for heaven" and a
little ''too good for hell'. But mainly, he's just bored!
Surely there must be more to life than this?
...enter the Devil...
Weaving personal family history into a traditional
Traveller's tale 'Jack and the Devil's Purse' is a timely,
cock-eyed look at the value of money in a world turned
upside-down.
With ingenious puppetry, dynamic storytelling and live
fiddle Angel Heart conjure this darkly comic adventure
dangerously to life. Suitable for everyone over 12 years.
Inspiration
for 'Jack and the Devil's Purse':
My great-grandmother was Ellen Cahill, an Irish Traveller
and, if my dad's story is to be believed a 'princess'
amongst her people. When she married she settled in
Mitchum, London with a Romany man by the name of Henry
Richardson. My father tells how Henry used to impress the
young 'uns by taking a pint glass full of gold sovereigns
and pouring them over the kitchen table, letting the kids
scramble to gather them up. Whilst wondering where all that
'gypsy gold' went (neither my dad or I have seen
head-nor-tail of it since) I was drawn to this old tale
about wealth and trickery and of course, the Devil.
'Jack and the Devil's Purse' is an old tale, as told by the
late master storyteller, Duncan Williamson. Duncan was a
member of the Scottish Travelling Community and by his own
reckoning held over 3000 stories in his head!
This unique cultural tradition of oral storytelling amongst
Scottish Travellers goes back as long as they themselves
have been traveling the roads and by-ways of Scotland,
since before the 12th century.
Billy Kinchin & Righteous Smith
We have the kind permission of Dr. Linda Williamson to
adapt Duncan's story. Linda has worked dedicatedly to
document and publish Duncan's trove of Scottish Traveller
stories; ensuring their survival and enjoyment by a wider
audience.
As the legal custodian of Duncan's work she has fully
endorsed our intentions:
"James Richardson has visited me to discuss the puppetry
project...His ideas and designs would be entirely
traditional and certainly help keep the tale alive for
generations to come. Duncan would have fully endorsed this
project had he been alive." (letter dated
11/11/08)
I
am going to be joined on stage by Griselda Sanderson, who
will accompany the puppetry action with live fiddle,
nykelharpa, and various elements of percussion. Griselda is
from a Scottish family of fiddle players going back several
generations. Her own musical background in Scottish, Irish
and Scandinavian folk music (the nyckelharpa is a
traditional bowed and keyed fiddle from Sweden) will ensure
‘Jack and the Devil’s purse’ has an authentic ‘sound’ that
reflects the tale’s origins in the ‘northern soul’.
We are pleased to announce that Plymouth's Barbican Theatre
have supported this project, providing studio space and
technical support during our rehearsal period. We are
especially thankful to Mark Laville, Artistic Director and
Jamie Smith, Head Technician for their enthusiasm,
encouragement and expertise.
NEXT PERFORMANCES OF JACK AND THE DEVIL'S PURSE:
Friday 25th May 2012 - 8pm. Barnfield Theatre, Exeter, EX1
1SN
www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk
Saturday 25th May 2012- 8pm. Barnfield Theatre, Exeter, EX1
1SN
www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk
We hope to see you along the road and until then, as Duncan
would have said, "May the De'il walk behind
ye!"
Black Ned- The Blacksmith