Oswaldtwistle: Falling - First planning meeting 1.00pm, 23rd April 2016

FALLING - FIRST PLANNING MEETING IS THIS SATURDAY AT 1PM AT THE CIVIC THEATRE

 
We have a very poignant performance opportunity coming up with the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre as part of Hyndburn Borough Council's many events to commemorate the Accrington Pals throughout 2016.
We are hoping to get lots of local schools and community groups involved in this unique and prestigious opportunity. We are hugely honoured that we can be part of the Accrington Pals commemorations and this huge performance will be both visually stunning and thought provoking. The Civic Art Centre and Theatre’s "Falling" is a  visual art piece that will depict the last moments of the 720 Accrington Men. We are looking to enlist 720 volunteers (yes 720!) to represent every Accrington Pal soldier that went over the top at The Somme on the 1st July 1916.
The performance will be like a flash mob, but will be a visual movement performance rather than a dance. This performance will celebrate the Pals friendship, bravery and their sacrifice. It will also be a reminder of all the soldiers that made it back home, who shaped the East Lancashire we know today. The "falling" group will bring every Accrington soldiers to life as they get ready to go over the top, in a raw and beautiful performance. At the sound of a gun shot 584 of the people will drop down dead to the floor, showing the true barbarity of that day. Thus leaving 136 people, the brave soldiers that made it home. They will walk back into the crowds to shake hands with the audience to represent the joy of coming home.

“Falling” will take place on Thursday 30th June at 7pm in Oak Hill Park Accrington, Lancashire, the night before the 100^th anniversary of the Somme.

 

This is a huge event to co-ordinate and we are looking for committed members of community to get involved. No previous acting experience is required for anyone interested in getting involved. Each volunteer will represent an individual soldier, who all deserve to be recognised for their sacrifice. We need people many people from our community to get involved, people of all ages and backgrounds, male and female, groups, schools, dignitaries, anyone who can help us make up the 720 men. Each person will represent one soldier so it is vital that once someone commits, they commit to the end, in honour of their soldier. Once we have an established group of people we will organise a meeting to talk over the details and then we will schedule rehearsals leading up to the event.

We are also looking for schools to get involved in crocheting and knitting poppies and primroses to represent the soldiers for this significant event. we can co-ordinate workshops with your school or you can request a pattern pack.

We need as much support as we can from our community, would you be interested in taking part?

ALSO as it's World Book Day we have some FREE copies of books to give out to attendees of the meeting.  You can choose from the below titles -
 

Band of Brothers, Stephen E. Ambrose
Am I Normal Yet?, Holly Bourne
A Baby at the Beach Cafe, Lucy Diamond