The Old Furnace Building at Coalbrookdale
A Telford based drama group is staging an unusual play which combines Shakespeare with musical theatre and the Ironbridge Gorge’s industrial heritage.
Furnaceman’s Dream is being presented by the Telford and District Light Operatic Players (Tadlop) in the Engine Shop at Enginuity, Coalbrookdale on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th November, near the site of the Old Furnace used by Abraham Darby.
Leaning heavily on dialogue from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Tempest, the play brings in other ‘supernatural’ characters including the Macbeth witches.
The story centres on a group of industrial workers, alias Bottom, Quince, Snout & Co, from the time Abraham Darby was developing his Coalbrookdale blast furnace. In his ‘dream’, the Furnaceman relives the great storm of 1801 and sees the interference of the supernatural in the lives and loves of working men.
Three of the Tadlop actors recently visited the working iron foundry at Blists Hill Victorian Town to gain first hand experience of casting molten metal for their roles in the production.
The two hour long performance begins at 7.30pm with doors opening at 6.45pm; for tickets priced at £12 each call the box office on 01952 613 055 (there are no reserved seats). For further information visit www.tadlop.com or for details about Enginuity and the Ironbridge Gorge contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433 424, www.ironbridge.org.uk.
Photograph © Copyright Colin Babb and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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