LUSITANIA
Audio Plays | July 2014—current
Created in association with Merseyside Maritime Museum.
Two series of original audio plays charting Liverpool’s relationship with the Lusitania.
This project explores the idea that, during the Great War, Liverpool’s frontline was not on the Western Front, but at the mouth of the Mersey. From her officers and crewmen to their mothers and sons, few were left untouched by the Lusitania’s sinking in this most pelagic of cities, where the music of the river was scored into every home.
Toured the North West in our bespoke Soundhouse, designed by Joanne Allen, throughout 2014/15.
In addition to the touring work, five writers worked with Merseyside Maritime Museum to create a series of short audio plays to accompany their major new exhibition, Lusitania: life, loss, legacy.
The idea was to reanimate five of the collection’s highlights and, by doing so, reclaim the voices of those touched by Lucy’s story.
TOURING PLAYS
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
By Laura Kate Barrow
A dockside stall trader recalls the fresh ghosts of her boys, her regulars, her favourites — the nameless victims of a shared city tragedy.
GOODBYE, LUCY
By Chelsea B. Bassnett
A haunting love letter to Lucy and the enigmatic sea: a great love becomes a desperate caress amidst the swallowing and superstitious waves.
HANDS
By Nicola Borrows
A mother’s long walk to the Cunard office to check the list of the dead becomes a spiritual journey through truth, memory and wish-fulfilment.
RACHE MEANS REVENGE
By Madeleine Jones
Inside the mind of an angry man: a crew member killed in Lusitania’s sinking decries the U-boat’s captain. Hate and hurt are difficult to separate.
THE GUILT OF THE INNOCENT
By Ellie Johnson
The day after Lusitania was sunk, north Liverpool felt the first signs of violence: and as people sought vengeance, the city succumbed to riot…
UNDERWATER BUTTERFLIES
By Ashleigh Stamper
A child’s eye view of Lusitania’s tragedy — in which monsters are always real, and endings aren’t always happy.
WRECK
By Sarah Van Parys
An abstract and poetic seabed-song between a sister and brother, whose voices drift in the timeless current.
A CONVERSATION WITH PIERPOINT
By Phil Montgomery
Detective William Pierpoint battles with his conscience: as the ship went down, he was unable to save three suspected German spies…
MUSEUM PLAYS
LUCY
By Kathryn Owens
Inspired by a souvenir paper fan that was probably presented to a lady passenger at the Captain’s Gala Night in Lusitania’s ballroom. It contrasts the endurance of so perishable an item with the demise of so mighty a ship.
THE JEWELLERY BOX
By Rebecca Downing
Inspired by a jewellery box owned by Margarita McCormac, a stewardess on board the Lusitania. A young visitor to the museum encounters its imaginitive power.
A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND
By Nicola Borrows
Inspired by young Nancy Mildon’s toy lion, Fido, who travelled with her across the Atlantic. She called him Fido because at first she thought he was a toy dog. A child’s perspective of the transatlantic U-boat threat.
THE STORY OF ROBERT LEITH
By Chelsea B. Bassnett
Inspired by the story of Robert Leith, who was a telegraphist on board the Lustiania. He courageously continued to send out distress signals until the ship’s last moments.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
By Sarah Van Parys
Inspired by the story of Joseph Parry, an Able Seaman in the Deck Department of Lusitania. He saved a lady passenger and her baby, and was later given one of the child’s shoes, on the sole of which is inscribed “lest we forget”. Here, Parry imagines what may have become of the baby in later years.
Directed by
Chris Fittock
Composer
Christopher Johns
Performers
Edward Barry
Sheila Jones
Aisling Leyne
Ross McCall
Philip McGuinness
Kat Rose-Martin
Iona Møller