“A Girl & A Gansey”

Bridlington’s new community musical “A Girl & A Gansey”, written by John D Slater and Musical Associate – Rebecca Roe, sets out to be a peep into the lives of Bridlington’s fishing community – back in the late 1800s. It is a tale of love, laughter, dreams and danger and the dedication of the people who gave the town, at that time, its principal industry – fishing.

Through it we follow the ups and downs of our girl and a gansey – glimpsing the world of a Bridlington lass, whose life was bound up with seafaring. We meet her family, friends – the boy she loves and marries, who at the opening of the musical tale is out there somewhere at sea. His wife sits and waits for him at the harbour and to keep her hands busy, she is knitting his next gansey.

She and many another wife have been there – waiting, hoping, praying for her man to come home safely and, indeed, the first song – “Home From Sea” is sung by Sarah, our ‘girl and a gansey’ as she waits.

For the creation of the drama, the author was inspired by Stephen Carvill’s “Gansey Girl” sculpture at Bridlington harbour; in fact Stephen, having viewed the script, is delighted with it and in full support of the project.

It is our hope to produce “A Girl & A Gansey” in film/video format – and arrange screenings for community centres, village halls, care homes, schools and other venues. It might also be made available through the internet for viewing at home – thus taking the legacy of our town far into the future.

It would be our intention to recruit all members of the cast from within Bridlington and surrounding areas. Opportunities to take part would be open to people of all ages and abilities, to make it a truly representative community project.

There is a promotional video, titled A Girl & A Gansey Promo, is on YouTube of you paste this link into your browser you will find it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duk7XUlysk4

Some of the financing for our project might come from commercial support, though the backing and support of our council would be a great advantage in getting the project underway.

John D Slater can be contacted at Apartment 4 – 3 Sands Lane, Bridlington, YO15 2JG. Email at bijou.productions@gmail.com – Tel 07349 968 449.