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 The story of Regent’s Canal,
portraying
~ John Nash the
restless architect
~ James Morgan the persevering engineer
~ Thomas Homer who proposed the canal and absconded with the
funds
~ William Agar who bought land on the canal route and sued for
compensation
~ the Navvies who built the canal in dangerous conditions
~ bargemen and their families who worked and lived afloat.
The cast: Camley Street Choir, Constitution Folk, Northern Celts,
Tipsy Gypsies, Acland Burghley and Brecknock Schools, Suzie of Keepers
Lock and professionals in leading roles, led by Musical Flying Squad.
Script, songs and direction by Rob Inglis; musical arrangements and
musical direction by Bob Stuckey.
Suzie of Keeper’s Lock will sing about life on the canal, and we shall celebrate the beauty of
Camley Street Natural Park, the Heron on Canal Patrol, and Crystal Hale’s victory at City Road
Basin.
Performances
| Sunday July 6, 5.30m. |
London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Rd,
King’s Cross N1 9RT |
| Sunday July 13, Noon. |
The Constitution, St Pancras Way NW1 OQT |
| Sunday July 13, 2.30pm |
Camley Street Natural Park,
Camley Street NW1 OPW |
| Special performances |
| Wednesday July 9, 3.30pm |
Edward Square N1
(behind corner of Caledonian Rd and Copenhagen St)
“Water Music” with Islington Schools, led by The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment |
| Saturday July 12, 2.10pm to 2.40pm |
Somers Town Festival of Cultures
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| Thursday 17 July 7.30pm |
Rosemary Branch Theatre,
2 Sheparton Rd N1 3DT
Canal Season at the Rosemary
Box office 7704.6665 |
| August 11, 1.00pm |
British Library Piazza NW1 |
All the above are FREE.
Donations go to a full production of
"Canal" in 2009.
The turbulent story of Regent’s Canal
The Regent’s Canal took eight turbulent years to build – 1812 to 1820. Its fortunes rose and fell
like lock water. Thomas Homer spent ten years proposing the canal – then absconded with the
funds. John Nash conceived it as part of his overall plan from Regent’s Park to Trafalgar
Square – which so absorbed him that he left most of the canal work to his architectural assistant
James Morgan. But Nash somehow managed to find finance – often his own – whenever it
was needed. The Navvies who built the canal without machinery overcame many adversities,
including the pitchfork wielding servants of land owner William Agar. The canal never repaid its
investors, for the railways started competing seventeen years later, but it is our rich legacy.
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