Building on the success of last year’s first Shelagh Delaney day, a world premiére musical production will pay tribute to one of Salford’s most famous writers on 25 November.
Now an annual celebration, the Shelagh Delaney day, commemorates the Salford playwright who penned the critically acclaimed play ‘A Taste of Honey’ (which shows at the Salford Arts Theatre from11 – 14 Nov).
Commissioned by Shelagh’s family, the world premiere of ‘All About and to A Female Artist’ is a musical adaption of Delaney’s short story of the same name.
Featuring an original score by Birmingham composer Stuart Stevens, this is the first time that any work by Shelagh Delaney has involved music. Stuart knew Delaney’s daughter so when looking for the right text to use for his music PhD she suggested her mother’s work.
Stuart said: “It is an honour to base a new oratorio on one of Shelagh’s short stories. She assembled this piece from the mountains of negative, cynical, funny letters and harsh reviews that she was bombarded with at just 19 years old following the enormous success of her debut play ‘A Taste of Honey.’”
With musical references ranging from Coronation Street to The Threepenny Opera, this production is performed by professional actors and musicians including some from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
‘All About and to A Female Artist’ forms part of ‘The Close to Home Show,’ which celebrates Delaney’s work and influence, at Salford Arts Theatre on Wed 25 and Thurs 26 November. An actor will also read out the winning story from the writing competition launched in her honour by the University of Salford. The top 20 stories will be published in an anthology, the ‘Shelagh Delaney collection’.
City Mayor Ian Stewart gave his support to the campaign for an official Shelagh Delaney day by local resident Louise Woodward-Styles after she suggested the idea as part of the Spirit of Salford campaign.
He said: “We are delighted that our Shelagh Delaney day continues to be celebrated in so many different ways. It is important to mark her contribution to the artistic life of the city so that she can provide an inspirational figure for generations of Salfordians to come. Again, our thanks go to Salford campaigner Louise Woodward-Styles who initiated what has become an annual tribute to Shelagh.”
‘Digital Delaney@MediaCityUK’, an alternative version of The Close to Home show will take place in the University of Salford’s Digital Performance Lab, at 2pm on Thursday 26 November and will be streamed live on YouTube.
