Join us for a tour of Santa’s Workshop where you will be invited to post a letter to Father Christmas at the North Pole, and where the Head Elf will show you all the work that is being done by Santa’s Elves to prepare for Christmas.  You will walk through an enchanted forest – meeting Elves on the way.  You will see presents being loaded on to the sleigh and Elves playing in the snow, before coming to Santa’s house.  Join Mary Christmas and the Elves for a festive sing-song round the piano before meeting Father Christmas himself. 

No Such Thing is proud to be working with artists from the Cube in the Square to create the magical world of the North Pole; and to be providing the entertainment in Santa’s Workshop before visitors meet Father Christmas in the Grotto presented by Erdington Rotary Club.  We look forward to seeing you on December 5th.  Tours of Santa’s Workshop will run from 12 noon till 4 o’clock.

Birmingham City Council has been celebrating UK Older People’s Day this October, with events all over the city.  In the Erdington Constituency this took the form of an Old Time Music Hall with entertainment provided by up and coming theatre company No Such Thing.

The day began with information stalls and dance workshops.  There was a quiz, refreshments and the chance to make and decorate your own hat complete with feathers.  All of these activities helped to prepare the audience of nearly one hundred older people for the theatrical entertainment in the afternoon.

The show began with the Master of Ceremonies who introduced proceedings with suitable style and flair.  We were then treated to rousing renditions of ‘When Father Papered the Parlour’ and ‘The Umbrella Man’. 

The classic Two Ronnie’s sketch ‘The Hardware Shop’ (or ‘Fork Handles’ as it is more commonly known) was performed live and went down a treat.  Then the famous comic poem ‘The Lion and Albert’ was enacted, to much mirth and hilarity.

No Such Thing’s Adam Skerrett brought ‘Champagne Charlie’ to life with particular panache, and actress Kaz Luckins arrived in full veil to tell the audience how she had been left ‘Waiting at the Church’.

Playing the piano in period costume was No Such Thing’s resident musician Victoria Skerrett, who proved that the old songs are still the best.

The production also included old favourites from the classic age of music hall entertainment, with songs such as; ‘How Much is that Doggie in the Window?’, ‘There’s a Hole in my Bucket’, ‘You are my Sunshine’ and ‘I do like to be beside the Seaside’.

The older people were given the chance to take to the dance floor and put their best feet forward with some tasteful tea dances.  This proved to be a very popular feature, and they showed that they could still give the young performers a run for their money!

After the interval the entertainment continued with some terrific turns, splendid speeches, laugh-out-loud limericks, a sparkling singsong and of course a knees up to bring the house down!

Highlights were the wonderful rendition of ‘Where did you get that Hat’, the touching ‘Daisy Bell’ and ‘The Amazing Kaz! William Tell Act’.

That No Such Thing managed in the space of just over three weeks, to put together a two hour show packed with musical performances, song and dance routines and comic monologues is an incredible achievement and testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of all involved.

The fun packed afternoon concluded with a sing-along for everyone to join in with – and the audience were in fine voice.  The final round of ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ and ‘Pack up your Troubles’ was, an especially memorable moment.  Actor (and also Artistic Director of No Such Thing) Adam Skerrett said, “A great time was had by all; the audience were enthusiastic, great singers and a delight to perform to.”  One very happy lady said it was the best day she’d had in three years!

With the chorus of ‘I’ve got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts’ still ringing in our ears, and judging by this afternoons reaction, it looks like music hall may be with us for some time yet to come!

Councillor Robert Alden attended the event and as well as addressing the audience, was seen to be enjoying the entertainment along with everyone else.

 “We loved the performance; so did all the older people.  Thank you so much.” – Karen Mcwhinnie, Event Organiser, Birmingham City Council.

If you are interested in having No Such Thing bring their Old Time Music Hall to your event, church hall, day centre or old people’s home then get in touch with Artistic Director Adam Skerrett skerrettuk@yahoo.com

We invite you to join us in the bowels of an abandoned supermarket for a truly spooky experience. 

We won’t give too much away right now – there are some surprises in store as you follow Adam, the grave-keeper, into the darkness……  Maybe you can already hear the lonely howl of the werewolf, or feel Dracula’s breath on your neck? 

The tours starts at 1pm in Central Square and run until 4pm.  There will be time to get back home before darkness falls!  A select number of people will be taken down in small groups - and there will be a gift for everyone who manages to make it through the experience unscathed. 

The piece has been commissioned by Erdington Town Centre Partnership. 

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Two Edwardian Suffragettes were seen promenading along the high street, complete with ‘Votes for Women’ banners and sashes. 

We met Emmeline Pankhurst (portrayed convincingly by Su Hallcroft) who was demonstrating her slogan ‘Words not Deeds’ by chaining herself to the railings in the centre of town in protest at the lack of women’s rights in her day.  High drama ensued when an Edwardian Policeman (played with great comic timing and physicality by actor Marc Phillips) chased her down the street and duly arrested the suffragette, carrying her off over his shoulder, just as would have happened in 1909.

But in a day that was all about democracy, a range of voices and opinions were heard.  No Such Thing’s third performer (actress Kaz Luckins) gave us a measured and thought provoking interpretation of Millicent Fawcett.  Not a Suffragette, but a Suffragist, her tactics were less militant and dramatic but in the end probably more successful in changing the place of women in Edwardian society. 

At a time when not enough people make use of their right to vote, No Such Thing gave us a poignant reminder of the struggle many women (and men) went through within living memory, in order that we all might have that right.

Getting the public involved in the performance is one of the traits of No Such Thing’s street theatre productions in Erdington.  For Democracy Day this took the form of a travelling ballot box.  People were asked what makes them proud of Erdington and were offered the chance to fill out a ballot paper, putting an X next to one of a range of answers.  The results were close.  The second most popular answer was the friendly people and the atmosphere of the town.  But winning out by a small margin was the fun event days and entertainment, proving that the people of Erdington will be welcoming the theatrical contributions of No Such Thing, to entertain, inform and provoke us to thought for some time to come.

Prime Minister of the day, H.H. Asquith arrived in town from one hundred years in the past to address the crowds.  But it soon became apparent how old fashioned his views were as he spoke against the right for women to vote.  Thankfully the Suffragettes were on hand to counter his views, and as shoppers stopped to look on, the issue was hotly debated.

Later on children took to the soap box and voiced their ideas on what they would do if they were Prime Minister for the day.

The performance was written and directed by Adam Skerrett, artistic director of No Such Thing.  No Such Thing have been providing street theatre in Erdington for the last three years, including such popular events as the St Patrick’s and St George’s day celebrations, and the recent Pride in Erdington historic walking tours.

(Photos by Katharine Kavanagh)

We are currently preparing an Old Time Music Hall Show on October 9th which will include comic monologues, dramatised songs of the classic age of music hall entertainment, a tea dance, and plenty of choruses for everyone to sing! 

The show has been commisioned by Birmingham City Council and is being put on to celebrate Older People’s Day.   We are very much looking forward to performing – please do come and introduce yourself to members of the company on the day. 

We are also writing and rehearsing a new production for Democracy Day on 17th October.  The performance will give members of the public the chance to meet our suffragettes who will tell the story of their fight for the vote.

Come and see the reaction of the Edwardian Policeman to their pleas! 

There will be a chance for members of the public of all ages  to vote in a ballot on subjects both serious and silly – and for children, as the voice of the future, to tell the crowds what they would do if they were Prime Minister for the day. 

This new event has also been commisioned by Birmingham City Council.  We hope to see you in Erdington on October 17th to celebrate democracy!

If you came with us on the No Such Thing historical tour of Erdington you probably visited the Erdington Tourist Information stand among the market stalls.  Perhaps you made a postcard of old Erdington – or chatted to one of the lovely attendants?

Here is Barbara Spooner doing some shopping – and Captain Adam leading the tour group.  Perhaps you remember hearing how she and many other anti-slavery campaigners boycotted sugar as a protest against the slave trade?  Sugar was a major product of the slave plantations in the West Indies. 

Next came Charlie Hall  – here he is preparing to throw a custard pie at Adam!  Charlie Hall was a local lad who went to Hollywood and starred in many Laurel and Hardy films of the silent era, including the film ‘Battle of the Century’ which contains the longest custard pie fight in the history of cinema.  The Charlie Hall pub in Erdington is named after him.

Oh no!  Now look what has happened!

Despite getting a custard pie in the face Adam managed to lead the tour on…..

Did you see this Victorian figure emerging from Erdington Library with his dog, Rough?  Josiah Mason told his rags-to-riches story to the crowds; and explained how he had used all of his wealth for the benefit of others.  He set up two orphanages in Erdington, and started the Birmingham Science College which welcomed men and women from all backgrounds.  It was the forerunner of Birmingham University. 

Josiah Mason said he was very impressed by Erdington Library even though such a thing never existed in his day!

We left this local benefactor only to come across a local villain – albeit from the middle ages!  After the tour group had read the inscription from the Domesday book around the village green, Thomas De Erdington appeared, one the the knights of Bad King John.  He lived at Erdington Hall, close to the river Tame at Bromford, and is said to have gone hunting with the King in the Forest of Arden on the edge of Erdington.  When he wasn’t hunting he was busy taking land and money belonging to other barons, and raising their castles to the ground. 

Boo!  Hiss!

He was a real baddie – and also a bit of a show-off!

After we had got rid of him we walked up the high street where children had the chance to play with a hoop and stick and they would have done in Erdington in Victorian times. 

Further up the high street still we came across the site of a very famous music venue between 1969 and 1971 – Mothers – ‘The Home of Good Sounds’.  Pink Floyd liked playing there so much they recorded an album there – in the room above what is now Walmsleys Furniture shop.  Black Sabbath were regulars, and John Peel was often in attendance.  There must surely be many residents of Erdington who remember the Mothers years?

Look out for the October issue of the Pride in Erdington magazine which features an article about the day by No Such Thing’s Adam Skerrett. 

Please do leave a comment if you joined in with a tour and enjoyed the day!

(All photos by Richard Skerrett)

 Perhaps you were also amongst the crowds who joined ‘Captain Adam’ for a tour of Erdington?  If you did you will remember meeting Barbara Spooner the wife of William Wilberforce who grew up at Rookery House in Erdington.  She was out doing some shopping but explained that she was careful no to buy sugar as, in her day, sugar was one of the main products of the slave trade.  Along with her husband she was a committed campaigner for the abolition of slavery.  Certainly something for everyone in Erdington to be proud of! 

The next character from the history of Erdington to appear was the silent movie star Charlie Hall.  You might have seen him trying to sell his custard pies – before ending up in a custard pie fight with the tour guide Captain Adam!  Not something you see every day on the streets of Erdington – but a good reminder that Charlie Hall starred with Laurel and Hardy in a film called Battle of the Century famous for including the longest and largest custard pie fight in cinematic history.  Of course you will all know that Charlie Hall pub named after him.

Coming out of Erdington library you might have spotted Josiah Mason and his dog Rough.  Josiah Mason told the crowds how he grew up in Kidderminster in poverty, making his living selling goods door to door with his donkey called Admiral Rodney, before teaching himself to read and write.  Mr Mason came to Birmingham as a young man, and worked himself up from a position as a labourer shifting coal at the Aston Flint Glass Works to running the largest pen factory in the world during Victorian times.  He became a millionaire, but spent most of his money trying to improve the lives of those around him.  He built two orphanages in Erdington – the largest of which housed 300 girls which had all the latest innovations of the time such as central heating and a steam laundry.  The large orphanage was demolished in 1974 so there will still be many residents of Erdington who will remember it – perhaps you have memories of it?  Josiah Mason also started the Science College in Birmingham City Centre, on the site of the Central Library. This was the forerunner of Birmingham University, and was built on the principle that any man or woman from any background should be able to study. 

The tour then came across Thomas De Erdington – a real villain this time!  Thomas De Erdington was a favourite of Bad King John (1167-1216) and he told stories of how he fought barons in Tamworth and had taken land from various other Lords by all sorts of underhand means.  He was met with a great deal of boo-ing and hissing as he told his story.  The King used to visit him at his Hall by the river Tame at Bromford, and they used to go off hunting together in the Forest of Arden.  (One theory for the origin of the name Erdington is that the village was named after the local forest:  Arden-ton.) 

There was a chance for children to have a go at playing with a hoop and stick on the high street as children would have done in Victorian times, before heading up past the markets to the site of ‘the home of good sounds’ – ‘Mothers’.  Above what is now the furniture shop Walmsleys, a renowned music venue existed between 1968 and 1971.  Pink Floyd recorded an album there, and the group were regular guests along with Black Sabbath and other famous names.  John Peel was often in attendance and helped to build up the very strong following of the club through his radio programme. 

 Throughout the afternoon people – perhaps you were there – were telling their own stories to members of No Such Thing at the Erdington Tourist Info stand.  We heard tales of Erdington Abbey before it became a private school.  Many Erdington residents have memories of going there.  We heard a little of the history of St Barnabus Church over the years, and many other recollections of Erdington of the past. 

Did you know that somewhere underneath Spaghetti Junction lie the Dwarf Holes?  Caves cut of the soft sandstone by the early Neolithic residents of the area?  Perhaps you have read the sign on the side of Erdington Library telling how the building was erected through the generosity of Andrew Carnegie a Scottish Philanthropist who had made his fortune in America?  Did you know that Mother Theresa visited Erdington?  Did you know that Erdington Six Ways is reputed to be the first traffic island in the world? 

There will be photos of the day appearing here very soon!

We are based in Birmingham UK, and devise site specific theatre and street theatre – theatre in unusual places and with unexpected twists and turns…! 

Ours is a world of music and stories: fairy tales and folk music – dragon-slayers, shape-shifters, the travelling circus..

We hope to see you soon!

Make a comment below or ring Adam at No Such Thing on 07815 132891.