Hookline Theatre - The Riot
The Riot
Hookline Theatre Company
Nick Darke left us in 2005, thankfully his wonderful work will live forever and the 18 month long festival to celebrate his life and works continues. As part of the Darke Visions Season, Hookline Theatre brought Nick's tale of the Newlyn fish riots to the Keay.
Using a backdrop of grainy black and white film and a simple, but effective set to evoke the hard times of the 1890s, the marvellous cast took us back to the days of closing tin mines, devious businessmen and the downtrodden Cornish. History, as they say, repeats itself!
The play revolves around the lives of the Newlyn share fishermen who staunchly observed the Sabbath, but things began to unravel when boats from England fished the Cornish waters on Sundays and landed their catch in our harbours. The ensuing riots and long term effects on the Cornish fishing industry were brought to life by the Hookline cast with passion and comedy. Tugging at the heartstrings by adding a moving soundtrack of hymns recorded by Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir, along with original music by Jim Carey and Jamie Crowe - this was a wonderful interpretation by a truly Cornish theatre company.
Hard to believe from this fine performance that Hookline only formed a few months ago and The Riot is their first production under Directors Theresa Forbes-Pearce and Harry Forbes-Pearce. Watch out for Hookline - I've a strong feeling there is more to come.
Sheila Vanloo
February 2010
