Just a couple of afternoons in rehearsal under Charlotte Allan's inspired direction was all it took our Tanzanian visitors and their hosts to put together a hilarious play about conflict and resolution. Charlotte simply took the songs and dances they had brought with them from Rungwe and wove a story round them with witch-like subtlety. There is something in conflict that everyone can recognise, of every age and in every culture: how it is often started by something ridiculous and made worse by little acts of spite. However serious the subject, if you want to get it across to your audience you have got to make them laugh, and their audience, aged nine to thirteen, laughed without inhibition at the mean trick of putting a huge snake in their enemies’ bed. They were so excited by the dancing that they clamoured to join in and were roused by the song about the bodily charms of Maria, a hit wherever it was performed. It took the understanding of a really wise woman to teach the warring tribes that it was more fun to be friends and sealed their newly found peace with a beautiful friendship, Anna being found to have just as many charms as Maria. The play was just as popular when it was performed to a largely adult audience at the Ceilidh in Cleator Moor.
Like Ashley, Charlotte is on fire to do all she can to bring opportunity to her friends in Tanzania. That has included swimming across the bitterly Wastwater to raise money by sponsorship, and the author of ‘Only Available in Carlisle’ has a genius for judging what will work on stage and for drawing flame from her actors whatever their culture.
Our photos show, above, Charlotte relaxing with some of her cast at the Ceilidh and below the actors singing the charms of Maria. You can see these, and lots more, on our website, which should be updated by 20th July.