A song competition has been launched to tie in with our forthcoming tour of Amazing Grace.
Woodhorn Colliery and Northumberland Archive is appealing to musicians in the region to compose a song inspired by Grace Darling, the 19thcentury sea rescue heroine from Northumberland.
The competition is open to any individual or group, and the song can be of any genre as long it relates to Grace Darling in some way. Up to six of the new songs will be broadcast during the three-week tour of the play which will tour throughout the region in October and November.
Grace Darling and her lighthouse keeper father lived on Longstone island when, in a storm on September 7, 1838, the SS Forfarshire struck the notorious Harcar rocks, a part of the Farne Islands and situated off the Northumberland Coast between Bamburgh and Seahouses. Of the 63 people on board, nine managed to escape in the lifeboat and headed to South Shields, while Grace and her father selflessly manned a coble to heroically rescue nine people stranded on the rocks.
Queen Victoria bestowed the Silver Bravery medal on Grace, and, after Victoria, she became the most well know woman in 19th century Britain. Sadly, the unwanted media attention forced Grace to become a recluse within a few month of the rescue and she tragically died of TB in 1842 aged only 26, four years after her heroic deed.
Woodhorn is home to Northumberland Archives which houses records of lasting importance to the county of Northumberland, including several relating to Grace Darling. Many of her letters and papers celebrating her legacy are housed at Woodhorn as part of the collection of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle and are available to view in their Study Centre.
Woodhorn Exhibition and Events Officer Liz Ritson explained: “We are delighted to be working with Ed and Trevor on this. The music can take any style as long as it’s original and comes in at under four minutes.
“Amazing Grace tells the story of Grace Darling through the eyes of a modern-day writer called Grace who wants to make a film about her famous namesake, so the song can have a modern context.”
The competition closing date is Friday, September 14, and the songs to be used on the tour will be announced soon after. Woodhorn will host a concert featuring the new songs on Friday, Saturday, October 6.
To enter, download an entry form from the Woodhorn website and send it with a CD of the Grace Darling song to Grace Darling Song Competition, Woodhorn,QEIICountryPark, Ashington,Northumberland,NE63 9YF. Call 01670 528 080 if you require any further information.
The three-week north east tour of Amazing Grace will begin with a world premiere at Alnwick Playhouse on Wednesday, October 17, as follows:
Alnwick Playhouse: 01665 510 785 Wednesday, October 17 – Friday October 19 7.30pm (plus Thursday matinee 2pm). Ticket prices: £11 (£10 concessions) £8 Schools
Consett Empire: 01207 218171 Saturday, October 20 (3pm and 7.30pm). Ticket prices £13 (£12 concessions) £8 Schools and students
Hexham Queen’s Hall: 01434 652477 Monday, October 22 and Tuesday, October 23 7.30pm (and 1pm Tuesday matinee) Ticket prices: £13 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students
Gala theatre (Durham): 0191 332 4041 Wednesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 25 7.30pm (and 2.30pm matinee Thursday). Ticket prices £13 (£12 concessions) £8 Schools and students
Hartlepool Town Hall: 01429 890 000 Friday, October 26 7.30pm. Ticket price £13 (£12 concessions), £8 Schools and students
Gateshead Old Town Hall: 0191 433 6965 Saturday, October 27 7.30pm. Ticket prices: £10 (£8 concessions)
Customs House (South Shields): 0191 454 1234 Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 7.45pm (and matinee Tuesday 2.30pm). Ticket prices: £13 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students
Blyth Phoenix theatre: 01670 367 228 Wednesday, October 31 7.30pm. Ticket prices: £13 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students
Berwick Maltings: 01289 330999 Thursday, November 1 and Friday, November 2 7.30pm (and Friday matinee 1pm)Ticket prices: £13 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students
Whitley Bay Playhouse: 0844 277 2771 Saturday, November 3 2.30pm and 7.30pmTicket prices: £14 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students
You may be interested to hear that in 2009 I wrote a musical called GRACE which was performed at the Joseph Rowntree theatre in York by the York Stars in 2010. I have been trying to get this musical produced here in the North East without success. There are 20 musical numbers and some of the video clips can be viewed on my website. You are quite welcome to use any of the songs in your own production. An orchestrated backing track is available if required. Regards Dennis
Hi Dennis
Thanks for the generous offer. I’ll pass it on to our director though Amazing Grace isn’t itself a musical so it’s unlikely she’ll take you up on it. Ed and I were already aware of GRACE and I’ve previously watched one of the clips. I hope the show went well in York, be lovely to see you at one of the many Amazing Grace shows and we can compare notes.