Friends and Fowl ©FNRC Friends and Fowl

Halloween Performance

Storytelling in the 'Haunted Chapel'

What a great night for Hallowe’en for children at the Newtown Road Cemetery where was told a most fitting story, specially prepared by Newbury’s very own short-story writer, Martin Strike. It was entitled “Unfortunately” and tells the tale of a schoolboy who had sold his soul to the devil many years before and is trying to get it back. But why does he have to visit the chapel at dusk every Hallowe’en? That was the question.
The event, patiently directed by Ros Clow, was run in conjunction with City Arts who had held a Mask-Making Workshop; and many of those present wore their costumes and became integral parts of the performance.
The story was well told by mega star Mike Brook and was later supplemented by visits from the Devil himself (Brian Sylvester) who was at first scary, but in turn scared by that “foulest of fowl”, a Victoria Park Swan, dramatically played by the author himself, Martin Strike.
Musical accompaniment was suitably provided by talented Dorothy Leddy playing on an atmospheric Dulcimer. And thanks must go to up-and-coming Indigo Hampton for her timely and appropriate “noises off”: very effective.
As might be imagined, the whole story ends up happily to thunderous applause from the young audience; and fortunately no children were harmed in its telling - well, not many!!!

From left to right (or is it from right to wrong?)

• The fearsome swan: Martin Strike - talented author of this short story
• Story teller and subject of the story: Mike Brook
• Director and producer: Ros Clow
• Musician extraordinaire: Dorothy Leddy & Dulcimer
• Noises off: Indigo Hampton and trusty whoopee-cushion machine
• The devil incarnate (Boo!): Brian Sylvester.