Stream: The Power Behind the Microphone
This was always going to be an ambitious project. A live theatre event to celebrate the centenary of the first live radio broadcast from a wooden hut in Writtle, Chelmsford, Marconi’s post war development base. They used the expertise of World War One flying aces and paid the enormous amount of one thousand pounds to bring Dame Nelly Melba to sing and to be broadcast around the world. People danced in the street in Paris. A turning point in history. From that moment the BBC was created, and the world set off on its communications journey. Silicon Valley, mobile phones, the internet all owe their existence to these pioneers. So how to celebrate this moment in these unprecedented times?
Chelmsford City theatres decided to become the only venue in the UK to attempt a live stage broadcast of the event in lockdown conditions on 15 June 2020. Although this was originally conceived as a community production, the artistic director Ian Knowles decided to produce a small-scale half hour excerpt from the original play, under social distancing rules. Back-stage staff devised a simple set with an upright piano and cleverly constructed authentic looking microphones. Opera star, Anna Steiger, was cast to play Dame Nelly and local professionals to direct and play the key parts. Local musician and Director of the Music Man project, David Stanley, who composed the theme for Chelmsford’s Olympic Torch Relay event, was asked to provide the piano accompaniment.
This was a brave step into the unknown when everyone is still trying to get their heads around how to make theatre work again. The Royal Opera House attempted it on Saturday with limited success. How did a small provincial theatre make out? They had technical problems, much like the first steps one hundred years ago. However, they made it work! Watching on YouTube you realised that, not a lot has changed. Enthusiastic and creative people are always going to find a way. It may not be the West End with huge budgets and Hollywood stars arriving by parachute, but they managed to be the only theatre in the UK presenting a live new play. And commemorating a moment that changed the world. What a shame the trendy management at the BBC did not realise the significance. Would have made a change from reruns. Well done, Chelmsford!
Available to stream on YouTube.
