Chesterfield’s iconic landmark is the title of a book by Chris Nickson and, at Ashgate Heritage Arts (AHA), they are making a “medieval murder-mystery musical” out of it.
Following the success of a short Showcase film shown at Buxton Fringe Festival, the Arts Council have awarded AHA a project grant to develop the musical further. Local musicians Martin Coslett and Peter Gray have teamed up with award-winning writer Mary Hennessy to produce the book and score. The funding means they’ll be able to pay a director, and actors, and take it to the next level.
The story tells how John Carpenter comes to Chesterfield in 1360 to work on the new spire. He finds a friend in a young boy, Walter and falls head over heels for his sister Katherine. But death and intrigue strike the construction site and John is suspected of murder. He is faced with a life and death struggle to clear his name and bring the guilty to justice.
Now Andrew Miller has been appointed Director, and Harry Style (Ed: Please note, just the one ‘s’ in ‘Style’) as Musical Director, to rehearse the cast and film a 30-minute piece which will be broadcast online on Wednesday 9 December, please make a date in the diary
Eventually AHA are hoping to put on a full stage show of The Crooked Spire at Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre.
To find out more, see AHA on Facebook and YouTube or contact them by email at: productionoffice@ashgateheritagearts.co.uk
Words: Peter Gray