A group of Dance, Drama and Music students were invited by Blackburn Cathedral to create and perform a piece of art to commemorate the famous battle.
Musicians and brothers Tom and Jack composed the music for some of the 20 minute performance, whilst the dance students delivered incredibly moving choreographed routines accompanied by emotive scenes created by the drama students.
Students performed to an audience of family, members of the parish and staff. Their piece was based on solider Captain Charlie May, who lost his life on the first day of the Battle of the Somme when leading his men into battle. He left a wife and child behind. Charlie keep a diary throughout his time at war (something which was not permitted) and this was sent home to his wife along with the Dead Man’s Penny.
The Memorial Plaque- more widely known as the Dead Man’s Penny- was issued after the First World War to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war. The plaques (which could be described as large plaquettes) were made of bronze and known as the "Dead Man’s Penny", because of the similarity in appearance to the penny coin.
The students were actually able to use a real Dead Man’s Penny as Performing Arts Director Mrs Waldron’s family recently had one returned to them by a couple who had located it in an antiques shop in South Wales and traced it back. The Dead Man’s Penny belonged to Mrs Waldron’s Grandfather’s second cousin, Michael Crummy, who was killed in action at just 22 years old.
Mrs Waldron said: “We would like to thank the Education Officer at Blackburn Cathedral for inviting us to perform in such a beautiful venue. The students put on an incredibly touching performance and there wasn’t a dry eye in the cathedral at the end. I’m so proud of the respect, understanding and maturity the students showed throughout our visit to the cathedral. They were a true credit to the Performing Arts Department and the whole school.”
Watch the video here
https://goo.gl/photos/hqJA3HU9e3bdk8tc8
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