A DAM TRIUMPH!
THE DAM PLAY
When the Committee of Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society asked Nevin Ward to write a play for their 70th anniversary, they knew they were in safe hands. Do you remember the wonderful Mystery Plays he did for the Millennium? The Society was actually thinking about a particular story featuring Gouthwaite Hall in the 17th century but Nevin, not realising this, began researching about the building of the reservoirs, Gouthwaite, Angram and Scar. It was a happy misunderstanding, which resulted in a monumental play about a monumental undertaking. “The Dam Play”, sub-titled “The story of Nidderdale’s Reservoirs and the People Who built them” was directed by Christine and Nevin Ward. We learned about the building of the three reservoirs, from the early deliberations of Bradford Corporation in 1889, to the stories of the people who lived in Scar village in the early 20th century. Three hours sped by in which we were entertained, educated and, at one point, moved to tears. An excellent souvenir programme helped to set the scene.
From a very skilful script we learnt about Bradford’s need for extra water to service both its woollen mills and the growing population. Sometimes the information came to us in the discussions between the three main Aldermen leading the project. Jerry Harvey, playing Alderman Gadie, perfectly portrayed a bluff Yorkshireman determined to lead his city to greatness; Gary McLagan, playing Alderman Milner, gave us a slightly absent-minded alderman, anxious to keep the arch-rivals, Leeds, in their place, while Peter Buller as the flirtatious Alderman Holdsworth, was the perfect foil for his colleagues. Gadie’s secretary (and more?), Elsie Bottomley, was played with a fine sense of timing and humour by Sarah Burton; in particular her discourse on “Standard Gauge Railways” was a delight.
Richard Bracey taking the part of the Chief Engineer in his first play is to be congratulated on his performance. He fully deserved his character’s knighthood! We appreciated his reasoning and explanations. His interactions with the Water Engineer of the arch-rival city of Leeds, ably played by Iain Johnson, admirably portrayed two engineers enthusing about their work.
These six characters led us through the years covering the building of the reservoirs, interacting well together and at times involving the audience in their discussions and arguments. The setting of the stage was simple but highly effective; the backdrop to the action was a large screen on which we saw historical photographs and maps, mostly ignored by the characters but occasionally used by them to provide explanations for decisions made. What could have been a rather long, dry lecture was superbly punctuated by the supporting cast and the musical interludes. A number of cameos – delightful Bradford Mill Workers and children, robust Nidderdale “Riparian Owners” and three fearsome Bradford “Ladies” – all helped to move the action along at a brisk pace. This was a measure of the consummate skill with which the play had been written and directed.
The final act, demanded by some of the characters at the end of act two, took us to Scar Village. We heard about the lives of the people who considered themselves fortunate to have lived in this extraordinary community. A dozen or so characters, in changing groups with well-chosen music and beautiful singing gave us a clear flavour of life at Scar Village. At the end we fully appreciated why people had been sad to leave when the village finally closed. All the acting was of very high quality but special mention must be made of the story of George Shackleton, movingly told by Christine Ward and the final scene in which Peter Buller used the words of Jack Haines (a former resident of Scar) to reminisce with such conviction that we felt he WAS the character. The play drew to a close with Nevin Ward singing the final song, “Back to Scar”, with Jack Haines’ words still in our ears and a background view of a sunset over Scar.
The directors, cast and stage team are to be congratulated for having given the audience such a wonderful evening’s entertainment. Nevin Ward’s meticulous research and planning and his skilful writing paid off. Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society has once again demonstrated its ability to reach the highest of standards. It was a privilege to have been part of the audience.
Photographs by Russ Thorne
Andrea Ives
[A shortened version of this review appeared in the Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald]