Crowning Glory

1:51pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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THE Crowns of Cradley, the spectacular community play which dramatised the story of one part of rural Herefordshire through words, music, pictures and dance, has been brought to life again in a broadcast-quality wide-screen DVD.

The video was filmed and directed by Malvern-based writer and broadcaster David Robertson, who also produced the play. Alan Hoida, who worked on such BBC natural history classics as Life in the Freezer and Blue Planet, edited recordings of all six live performances plus scenes from the creation of this unique project.

With a cast of 60 local people and many more working behind the scenes, the play was staged during September 2007 in a huge tented theatre that exploited all the resources of 21st century drama. Some of the £60,000 budget was provided by generous grants from the Arts Council and Awards for All, while the rest came from sponsors, including HRH the Prince of Wales, and from the sale of virtually all the 1,800 available tickets.

The Crowns of Cradley was written by Peter Diamond, who also led a team of four associate directors. Set mainly in this village on the Herefordshire and Worcestershire border and based on stories from elderly residents, the play begins and ends in June 1977.

The two-and-a-half hour, two-DVD set costs £15 from Cradley Post Office and other outlets or from David Robertson, Technology Response, High Grove Barn, Croft Bank, West Malvern, Worcs WR14 4DX. More details from David Robertson on 01684 573780 or email: responseco@aol.com