An Historical Radio Pageant in Four Episodes
Written and Arranged by Edward P. Genn and W. Huntley Adams for the occasion of Liverpool's Third Civic Week
Played by The Liverpool Radio Players
The Station Chorus and Orchestra
Fanfare of Trumpets
An Ode to Liverpool (written by William Colquitt in the Year of Our Lord MDCCCII) declaimed by William Armstrong
'Liverpool contains 570 streets, 10,600 houses (many of which have their cellars inhabited), and consists of 78,000 inhabitants. Anno. Domini 1800.'
EPISODE I—'THE VISIT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH' (1580)
This first scene, which is founded on a pleasant tradition in Liverpool's history, depicts the Revels of Midsummer's Eve, when the old town, then in a state of decay and poverty, is said to have been visited by the Virgin Queen.
Characters
Queen Elizabeth
Ralph Sekkerston, ex-Mayor of Liverpool
Thomas Bavand, the Mayor
A Watchman
Mother Demdike}
Margaret Loy}(the Three Witches of Castle Street)
Dorothy Bridge}
Soldiers, Guard of Honour, Morris Dancers, Citizens, and Singers
Scene : Exterior of the Castle of Liverpool
EPISODE II — 'THE SIEGE OF LIVERPOOL' (1644)
Liverpool was not always loyal, and during the bitter strife between King Charles and Cromwell, defied the King, who sent an army under the command of Prince Rupert to besiege the town.
Characters :
The Hayward
1st Citizen
2nd Citizen
3rd Citizen
Landlord of the Tavern
A Messenger
Prince Rupert
The Earl of Derby
Lord Molyneux
Colonel Moore
Soldiers, Citizens, etc.
Scene 1. A Tavern in Dale Street (the eve of Prince Rupert's attack)
Scene 2. Prince Rupert's Headquarters at a cottage in Everton.
Scene 3. Before the Town Hall.
EPISODE III — 'THE PRESS GANG' (1780)
TERROR stalked through Liverpool's streets with the coming of the press gangs. This scene depicts the clever ruse with which their power was shattered by a visitor to the old town.
Characters :
William Deakin
David Pepper
H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence
Staners, a Waterman
Levy, the leader of the Press Gang
Capt. Jeffers, commanding H.M.S. Allcote
Members of the Press Gang, Sailors, etc.
Scene 1. In the shadow of the Tower.
Scene 2. The Captain's cabin, H.M.S. Allcole.
EPISODE IV— 'THE DALE STREET COBBLER' (1829)
MORE peaceful days brought increasing prosperity to Liverpool and necessitated the widening of many of its narrow streets.
The authorities, however, met with considerable opposition in this undertaking, and had no greater opponent than the Cobbler of old Dale Street, whose defiance is revealed in the next and concluding scene of the Pageant.
Characters:
Mistress Mary Mather, the cobbler's wife
John Dunn, a prominent Liverpool citizen
Daniel Mather, the cobbler of Dale Street The Town Crier
His Worship the Mayor of Liverpool
A mob of townsfolk
Scene: The cobbler's shop in Dale Street.
WALTON PRITCHARD, CHORUS and ORCHESTRA
The Pageant directed by EDWARD P. GENN
Chorus Master: HARVEY J. DUNKERLEY
Orchestral Direction: FREDERICK BROWN
Cast includes:
MARVEL HULME, MARY RUTHERFORD, Mrs. FRED WILKINSON, Mrs. HAROLD DICKINSON, GLADYS DOVEY, HUGH H. FRANCIS, PHILIP HERBERT, WALTER SHORE, PHILIP H. HARPER, J.P. LAMBE, ROBERT H. MAWDSLEY, A.L. BRUCE, FRANK HAWKINS, EDWARD GENN
A Song of Liverpool - F. Nicholls
