[31
AUG 00] BELGRADE THEATRE NEWS
City's Musical History
Takes To The Stage
There will be a chance to
remember the Good Old Days before the Ghost Town, as the sound of ska is
heading to the Belgrade stage.
If the names of
Coventry’s The Specials and The Selector mean anything to you, then this
play set 20 years ago should bring back memories.
It
starts in 1979 when the city was at the centre of the musical universe and
when Ska ruled the airwaves.
Bob
Eaton's new production of Three Minute Heroes' is said to be an
affectionate portrayal of those heady days of the 2-Tone era. It takes to
the stage from 12 September.
The dying years of the
1970s were in several respects an ugly period in Britain's history.
Unemployment, racism and social unrest created a new generation of rebels.
In Coventry this led to
the revolutionary musical explosion that was 2-Tone. A cast of five bond,
fight, love and play their way through this story - written for and about
the people of the city.
A live band, directed by
Akintayo Akinbode, who last worked at the Belgrade Theatre on Big Nose,
recreate the unique style of 2-Tone.
Songs include On My
Radio, Madness, Too Much Too Young and Ghost Town. The musical and
political climate of 1979-81 is evoked through a blend of live action,
song and documentary footage.
Director Bob Eaton said:
"2-Tone was in
many ways a reaction against the negativity of the period.
“It was highly
idealistic, it was politically outspoken, it was full of life-affirming
energy and most important of all it was created and performed by young
black people and young white people together.
“It took the pop
charts by storm, and it came from Coventry.
“Three Minute Heroes
is a tribute to the idealism and genius of the musicians and the young
people who stood up to be counted in the city at this time.
“As well as stirring
a few memories for the thirty-somethings and over, I hope it also means
something to a new generation who have their own battles to fight and
music to make."
Tickets range from £8 -
£15, and are available from the box office on 024 7655 3055 or can be
booked on-line.
CWN's
THE BLACKROOM - THE SELECTER'S PAULINE BLACK ON ska
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