First Dramatic Canal Walk
A Dramatic Lunar Adventure Trail
September 2009
Our interest in canal walks arose from the work we undertook to research the context for Eclipsed, the play about the Lunar Society.
This was our first dramatic Canal Walk and was an ambitious stroll from Bordesley, home of Joseph Priestley, to Winson Green, which was the nearest we could get to Soho House by canal. It finished with a minibus link to Soho and a final scene there in the grounds.
Various members of the Lunar Society walked the entire route in costume together with our ‘audience’ and dramatic scenes took place, including one in Chamberlain Square in front of the Priestley statue, and another in front of the gilded statue of Boulton, Watt, and Murdoch, in Broad St.
Peter Churchill, Community Musician, walked with us and provided musical accompaniment for the selected authentic canal songs.
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death this year. He attended the walk in person with several of
his friends, scientists and inventors James Watt, William Murdoch, Erasmus
Darwin, William Withering and Joseph Priestley. Mr Boulton greeted
walkers at the start of the walk and invited all participants to tea at his
lovely home, Soho House, at the end of the afternoon.
It was a triumphant success and a very enjoyable day.