Spinning a Yarn

Composer Chris Pickett wrote a musical piece about the industrial revolution in the mill-town of Mossley. The storyline is of a family clearing out the attic of a 200 year old local cottage. They find diaries of people that have lived in the house detailing their lives in the mills. Whilst the diaries are read the action plays out on stage. It consists of five scenes detailing life in the different mills, during the depression and up to present day when the mills have been demolished.

The music was written to reflect the action and the sounds of the machinery. Local choirs were on stage as mill workers, singing in choral numbers about life in the mills. Local dancers created traditional clog dance scenes, with choreography by local choreographer Nicola Ellison.

The group recorded interviews with elderly residents talking about the mills which were played as the audience arrived. Old photographs of the area were also displayed around the theatre and used as a projection feature during the performance.

Abney Orchestra had never taken part in such a big project before. Being involved in the writing and creating of the project pushed members’ skills and abilities to the limit, inspiring them to go beyond their personal best. Each participant had their own personal part to play for which they had to practise and improve their skills. They worked with many new people in the local community and beyond and creating legacy groups for the town. The project also created opportunities for other groups to become involved and for new groups to be created.

To find out more about the event, visit the Abney Orchestra website.