Perthi Kov (Cornish for remember) is a community project group based in Redruth, Cornwall.
‘Until the Day Break’ was performed 30 times between May 16th and 21st 2017. Small groups of audience were escorted around the two graveyards at St Euny by character guides, ‘residents’ of the graveyards. On the journey other ‘residents’ told their stories, choirs sang, children played, suffragettes marched and soldiers tried to recruit us…
The story walks were produced, hosted and performed by a remarkable group of 150 local people, both professional and volunteer – performers, singers, stewards, researchers, writers, musicians, theatre-makers, stage managers, cake makers, tea-servers, groundsmen, designers…
Click here for a full list of the participants.
In October 2014 Sally Smith, was visiting family in Atlanta, Georgia. During the week before Halloween every year Oakland, the city cemetery, holds story walks where costumed characters tell the lives of its residents (http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/?event=capturing-the-spirit-of-oakland-halloween-tours ). The celebrated and humble rest together at Oakland – tycoon and pauper, Christian and Jew, black and white, powerful and meek, soldier and civilian. Visitors walk the graves and encounter performers and musicians animating these stories.
Sally was inspired by this. She wondered whether it would be possible to mount a story walk in St Euny church yard, a beautiful, melancholy place with many fascinating graves. St Euny is the Miner’s Church and its graves map the rich and varied history of Cornish life – stories of migration, fabulous wealth and intense poverty, infant mortality, mine accidents, trepanning doctors, cholera epidemics, long marriages (and very short ones). In the New Graveyard there are several war graves and many contemporary graves too. All providing a rich treasure-trove of stories.
Mary Woodlan, Head Curator at Oaklands gave us her blessing and gave us much invaluable advice. We were very honoured (and nervous!) when she and her husband came to Cornwall from Atlanta to see one of the performances of ‘Until the Day Break’.
courtesy of Oakland Cemetery
The performance travelled the two graveyards at St Euny. These two maps show the routes taken and the location of storytelling moments. If you would like to know the location of the specific graves that inspired our stories you will find a map next to each story. Click on a picture below to go to that story.
The storywalk began in the ‘New Graveyard’…
… continuing and culminating in the ‘Old Graveyard’.
The stories featured in 'Until the Day Break' are about, or inspired by, people buried in St. Euny churchyard
Some photos from the workshops, writing groups, choir rehersals and performances
The audience feedback to 'Until the Day Break' was incredibly positive
Such an amazing experience, we found it very moving thank you
It was unique, wonderful history brought to life in this original way, I loved it, and was especially moved by the gentle singing of the Carn Brea Lullaby beside the historic graves of all the stillborn and young babies lost at Redruth Hospital.
Many thanks – it was a wonderful experience. A very emotional yet entertaining evening.
I was completely blown away by the show – I simply will never forget it. The quality and integrity of the performances, the wonderful stories and story telling, the surprises, unexpected corners, variety, humour and pathos – it was all there… and exceptional.
A truly magical event. So glad we were able to meet your residents yesterday.
I and family are still buzzing about the moving performances. So many congratulations to all involved. Not to be forgotten. Remembered. Thanks
The best performance I have ever seen, thank you
Learned a lot, laughed and cried! Wonderful performance. Thank you all!
Thank you all for such a wonderful experience. The memories will stay with me forever.
History brought to life, fantastic acting, beautiful singing, a real pleasure. Thank you all. When’s the next one?
It was such an amazing idea and worked so well in that beautiful churchyard. The costumes were brilliant and authentic, the singing was beautiful and we loved the suffragettes! It was magical and incredibly moving.
The show was such a treat. It sat like an egg in a nest waiting to be hatched. It was lovely to feel the stretch of the earth, how one spot spills across the land.
The concept was genius, the arrangements efficient and conducted warmly, the acting brilliant, the singing lovely, the experience wonderful and, in view of the limitation on numbers, it was a privilege to be there.
Until the Day Break was truly amazing. My friend and I went yesterday afternoon and enjoyed every minute. Everyone was superb in portraying the characters wish I could go again. Many Congratulations to everyone involved. Simply AWESOME
Fantastic Performance in every way. The walk touched every emotion from sad and shocking to laughter and joy. A massive well done to everyone involved. I will be visiting this more than once for sure….
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Mary Woodlan Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, USA; Caspar Bush, Olive Stephens, Angela Brown and Sandy Bennett of St Euny Church; Michael Tangye, local historian; Debbie McCrory and BBC Radio Cornwall; Falmouth University; Tamsin Mallet at County Records Office; Kim and Tristan at The Cornish Studies Library; Azook and cornishmemory.com; WILD Young Parents’ Project; Sharron Schwartz, historian; Anna Oliver at Fresca Marketing; Tim Hardy and WildWorks; Jack Morrison; Lin Smith from Ellsie Productions and Jenefer Lowe for costumes.
Perthi Kov would like to thank family members and friends of our St Euny residents, including the Gulliford family, Sue Thomas, Helen Raffles, Ross and Heather Williams, Pat Ince, Catherine Ince, Chris Treweek, Linda Beskeen and Robin Knights and family for sharing their memories and knowledge with us.
Thanks to everyone who attended our Tea Parties and shared their memories, and the many correspondents on Facebook who helped our detective work.
AND THANKS TO OUR FUNDERS AND SPONSORS:
Arts Council England; FEAST; Cornish Mining World Heritage Site; Truro Diocese; Cornwall Heritage Trust; Cornwall Councillors Community Chest; Redruth Town Council; Redruth Charity Trust; Percy and Lily Reed Williams Foundation; St Euny Church; WildWorks; Fresca Marketing; Penventon Park Hotel, Redruth; Berrymans Bakery, Redruth; Tony Moyle Funerals, Redruth; David Hendy Funerals, Camborne; The Sewing Studio, Redruth.
