‘YARD’

‘YARD’

PERFORMED IN GOLDTHORPE’S YARD, HUDDERSFIELD COMMISSIONED BY LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE, HUDDERSFIELD.

EXTRA INFORMATION:

“YARD” was written and directed in partnership with the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield and Wilson Wilson theatre company. Poet Simon Armitage was commissioned to write the script for “House”, a site-specific production performed in a semi-derelict house in Goldthorpe’s Yard in Huddersfield. Steven was invited to produce a piece to be performed in the Yard. He researched the history of the yard which proved to be very interesting. Huddersfield’s first jail was in the cellars of one of the buildings. In April 1812 two Luddites were imprisoned following unrest in the town. Imprisoned alongside them a soldier who, “refused to shoot upon my fellow man.” The Luddites were transferred to York and later hanged and the soldier sentenced to 25 lashes, dealt in the Yard. In 1860, the year after Darwin published his “Origin of species,” the Huddersfield Naturalist Society moved its headquarters to 3, Goldthorpe’s Yard. At number one lived young Seth Mosley, an apprentice, who, years later became the first Curator of the Tolson Museum, an interest no doubt engendered by his proximity to the Naturalists’ HQ.

Following an advertisement in the Huddersfield Examiner for information on the history of the Yard, a lady of 92, Mrs Middleton, came forward and said that she gave birth to her eldest son in Number 1b, Goldthorpe’s Yard in December 1928, exactly 70 years to the day on the final performance of the play. The story was incorporated into the plot!

Weekly performances were given, outside in the Yard during November and December, and “natural events” like the ringing of the Parish Church bells, a rising mist and a full moon all greatly enhanced the performances which were given to full houses on every occasion.