SADDLEWORTH MORRIS Men will celebrate their ruby anniversary with a Rushcartspectacular this summer – as well as being part of a project a little more unusual.
For the Morris side have been the inspiration for dances in a new play ‘An August Bank Holiday Lark’ by Debbie McAndrew, which launches this month. 
The play was commissioned by Barrie Rutter at Northern Broadsides Theatre Company to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of WW1.
Set around an East Lancashire village’s Rushcart at a wakes weekend in 1914, it is a tale of the effects of war on lifestyles and traditions.
And keen to capture the true spirit of Morris celebrations, the theatre approached Saddleworth Morris Men to enlist their help.
Ed Worrall, who joined the side 14 years ago, revealed: “Conrad Nelson, the play’s choreographer, has been coming to our practices for the last couple of months to learn our dances and pass them on.
“One of Saddleworth’s traditional dances will be included in the play along with a full sized Rushcart. Our heritage will be put up on stage and woven into the play which is fantastic.
“Not many Morris sides get the chance to be involved in something like this – and it particularly resonates with us as we celebrate our 40th anniversary.”
Playwright Debbie McAndrew, who once starred in Coronation Street, added: “I was given the title, which is taken from a line in Philip Larkin’s poem MCMXIV.
“I thought of the Rushcart quite quickly as it’s an August festival and a northern one too. From this I got the kind of place my play would be set in and some of the characters.
“The Saddleworth Men have been fantastic in the way they embraced the idea of the play and helped myself and Conrad with our research.
“It’s difficult to find anything new to say about the First World War, but it is possible to bring something into focus that is often overlooked.
“The particular aspect of conflict my play touches on is Gallipoli. The action, however, remains on the home front in the world the young soldiers left behind – a world ultimately left behind by history. As Larkin puts it in his poem – Never such innocence again…”
The play opens on Friday, February 7 in Newcastle-under-Lyne before touring the country until its finale at the Oldham Coliseum in June.
Meanwhile, the Saddleworth Morris Men are also gearing up for their biggest Rushcart to date as they invite 25 sides to help them turn their annual event into an anniversary special.
The usual route through Saddleworth’s villages will be taken over the August bank holiday weekend, with a few additional stops in Uppermill and Delph.
But this year police cannot supply traffic management cover so the Morris side is employing a local contractor to help keep the event going.
Ed commented: “As we’re a small organisation this is a huge amount to find. We don’t have that revenue to easily fall back on.
“We sell programmes and badges but it won’t cover the costs – so we’re calling on the generosity of Saddleworth businesses to sponsor us and become a Rushcart patron.
“All we’re asking is around a £50 donation and you will be fully acknowledged in the programme. It will make a huge difference to us and the event.
“This isn’t a panic situation but we are very conscious a lot of people come to the area just for the Rushcart and we want to make sure the event can go ahead in style as usual.
“The ‘Cart is a part of old Saddleworth that we’re proud to maintain and, we hope, Saddleworth wants to see continue.
“We’ve got a busy programme over spring and summer but the 40th Rushcart is going to be a bumper event.
“This is a really big year for us and a big milestone to reach. We’ve still got a few of the original dancers who were in the group 40 years ago, such as Peter Ashworth.
“People said it wouldn’t last when they restarted it in 1974 but it’s still going today and we all have a great time. It’s our 40th year and we’re still growing – we’ve actually got 40 members!”
For more information about the Saddleworth Morris Men, visit their website:www.morrismen.saddleworth.org.uk
For full details of performances of ‘An August Bank Holiday Lark’ and to book tickets, visit: www.northern-broadsides.co.uk/index.php/coming-soon/an-august-bank-holiday-lark
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