Goodnight George – Programme
The letters of George Fearn were used as the basis for an education project with Richard Wakefield School at Tutbury and Horninglow Primary which culminated in a performance at the Brewhouse, Burton-on-Trent on 20th March 2014.
The programme for the production is reproduced below
Good Night George Programme
“I hope the audience will be proud of us and take away what we have learnt about WWl, and how much we have put into our Goodnight George Performance” Phoebe (Horninglow Primary)
Bass Excursion to Scarborough
On 24th July 1914 fourteen trains and 8000 passengers went to Scarborough on a day out courtesy of Bass Breweries. This was to be the very last excursion trip for the people of Burton before the outbreak of the First World War.
Your Country Needs You!… Last night at home
5th August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany; Lord Kitchener posters that were put up everywhere to encourage boys and men up to join the army and fight for their country. By 1916, with huge losses of life and little ground lost or won. Fought mostly by soldiers in trenches, all married men between the ages of 18 to 41were conscripted and sent to far way lands to fight.
George Fearn was one of those men; who fought so desperately to stay with his wife and children. Using George’s letters he wrote in the workshops, inspired the children to write their last night at home diary entries in role as George.
“I will remember that George Fearn came from Tutbury to fight for all of us.” Collum (Richard Wakefield)
Goodbyes at Burton Train Station
The people of Britain truly believed the war would be over by Christmas 1914. Burton Men & Shire Horses from the Breweries were inspected and mobilised as they marched up to; Burton Train Station. Mothers, wives and daughters waved goodbye to their loved ones, unsure of their return and were left to deal with the harsh reality of life at home.
“I hope people will try and stop another war from happening and that war is not a nice thing!” Chelsey (Horninglow Primary)
Tommie’s Drill
Every woman was then expected to take on the men’s jobs and keep the home fires burning. Whilst our men were away, being drilled and trained in order to prepare them for the life of trench war-fare in France.
Bust it!
This poem was found in Arthur Thoneloe’s home just after the First World War. lt is thought that Arthur would have kept the ‘Bust lt’ poem with him during his time in the trenches and must have been of great significance to him and kept safely during his time in France.
The Goodnight George Children; after unearthing Arthur’s 100 year old poem and have brought ‘Bust lt’ back to life.
‘My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean’
George Letters: During the children’s visit to Staffordshire Regiment Museum; we explored the trenches and brought George’s letters to life in a real-life dugout- which inspired the children to write their own letters in role as George Fearn.
May Letters: During their visit to the National Brewery Centre; children wrote letters in role as May in response to George’s his letter; inspired by what they have learnt about what life was like back at home in Burton during the First World War.
“I will remember going to the trenches & seeing what life really might have been like for a First World War soldier.” Eve (Richard Wakefield)
George Fearn’s last letter
Read by Tom Smith; Horninglow year 5 Class Teacher… This was to be the last letter George wrote to May in 1917.
“I will remember about George Fearn and all the people who died in WW1.” Shaan (Horninglow Primary)
Last Battle
8 million horses died and 10 million soldiers were killed and 20 million wounded during WW1; Nash Alley was to be George’s last battle. The children have created poetry inspired by their visit to the trenches, produced charcoal sketches and have worked with the National Theatre to create shadow puppets inspired by themes from the National Theatre’s production of War Horse.
“I will remember the poems we all made together & making the shadow puppets, because I really enjoyed making them.” Maggie & A/ex (Richard Wakefield}
Remembrance
At the end of 1918, an armistice was finally agreed upon; the fighting was to end on the 11th hour of 11th day of 11th month. After the bloodiest war this world has ever seen; poppies grew in the fields where so many men lost their lives. Each child has made their own poppy and will be speaking the names of fallen soldiers from Tutbury and Horninglow.
“lt is important to remember the First World War, because they fought for our freedom and what we are now.” Abigail (Horninglow Primary}
“it’s important to remember the First World War because of George Fearn. They gave their today for our tomorrow, we will always remember them.” Sophie {Richard Wakefield)
Richard Wakefield Primary School
Declan Adams
Calum Barlow
Liam Bolton
Leroy Boyes
Amie-Louise Cadd
Maggie Croxall
Sophie Danby
Joseph Fleeman
Jack Goodings
Jasmine Handley
Emily Hipkiss
Jakub Jasik
Ann Thereas Joshy
lsabel Lloyd
George Mace
Joshua McCammon
Rebecca Mongan
Sophie Scott
Rauf Sharpe
lzabel Spencer
Eve Swindlehurst
Amber Talbot
Kacie Viner
Alex Woodberry
Horninglow Primary School
Aliyah Abbotts
Khayyam Ali
Connor Brewin
Alex Cartwright
Chelsey Cashmore
Billie Jo Clark
Jenson Cooper
Phoebe Coppin
Elle-May Cottee
Hannah Dark
lsobei.Dear
Maddison Dicken
Ellie-Mae Farmer
Niamh Griffiths
Arina Gromadska
Heena Kamran
Joshua Lye
Joshua Markham
Daniel Matthews
Nathan Peach
Charlotte Power
Shaan Rehman
Shaun Rowntree
Loren Shorthouse
Adam Taylor
Ben Twells
Martin Vasilevsky
Chloe Whetton
Abigail Wildman
Hassaan Yawar-Bin
Alix Jones & Manya Benenson Project Producers;both have successfully collaborated on many small and large scale projects bringing a range of complementary skills and specialist expertise.
Alix has over 5 years professional experience of working as a Freelance Practitioner delivering in Schools,Colleges and Youth Groups. Alix is an Education Associate Practitioner at the Royal Shakespeare Company; Nottingham Playhouse & West Yorkshire Playhouse – delivering outreach workshops to both primary & secondary schools.
Manya has been producing, devising and delivering experiential learning opportunities for a diverse range of groups and abilities across the region for the past 12 Years.
Working with Theatres; including Nottingham Playhouse, Lakeside Arts Centre and Mansfield Palace Theatre and and regularly delivers Creative Training courses for professionals across youth, health and education sectors.
“We hope you enjoy the Goodnight George Performance and Exhibition.
This unique partnership project has provided new and exciting opportunities to help children explore and preserve their own local history and create an exciting sharing experience for the community to share. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in making this project happen and aim to develop more projects like Goodnight George to inspire reading & writing and plant a seed for life-long learning- using theatre as a heartbeat.” Alix Jones & Manya Benenson; Project Producers
Alix Jones and Manya Benenson Project Producers would like to say a huge thank-you to all the staff & children from year 5 at Richard Wakefield C of E Primary School & Horninglow Primary School for their contribution, energy and support towards the project and today’s performance. A special thank-you to all our partners; Burton Co-operative Learning Trust, ESBC Brewhouse Arts Development team, Chris Copp from Staffordshire County Council Great War Programme, Melanie Whitehead from the National Theatre, Vanessa Winstone at the National Brewery Centre, Rick & Jane Nuth from the Tutbury War Memorials committee for their continued support and generosity and the Herirtage Lottery Fund for their support to help fund the project
Tom Raworth- Photography
Shammena Kauser- Film Maker, Project Wired
Anna Roebuck- Exhibition Manager, Brewhouse Arts Centre
Matt Bancroft- Technical Manager, Brewhouse Arts Centre
Robert Brittle- Then & Now Photographer
Malcom Goode- Local Historian
Pamela Anderson & Geoff Thompson- Brewhouse Volunteers
A special thank-you to everyone that has loaned us items and family collections to share in the exhibition cases to help