WORLD PREMIERE
THE TALLY
Monday 26th November 7:15pm
The Pie Factory, Broadway, Salford Quays
THE SOUL OF COAL GOES TO MEDIA CITY…
Before the BBC gets to mediacity:uk, the community is storming the only standing studio on the site for a world premiere of The Tally at the Salford Film Festival…
The film was devised by young people from the ex coal mining community of Higher Folds, in Leigh, and they star in the movie together with a former miner. Tv celeb, Danielle Henry, soon to star in the BBC series Torchwood, was the on-set acting coach and the action isn’t too far away from sci-fi…It’s got ghosts, it’s got special effects, it’s got danger and it’s got dancing…But most of all, it’s keeping history alive for a new non-mining generation.
Welcome to The Tally, an enchanting new film by REELmcr and Creative Industries in Salford, where a modern day Morris Dancing troupe go time tripping back to the era when coal meant more than a political football for Mrs Thatcher. It’s loosely based on the real life tragedy at Pretoria pit near Atherton, where 344 men and boys died just before Christmas in 1910 in Britain’s third worst ever mining disaster.
Deep in an old mine, a group of lads and girls are cold, afraid and hopelessly lost in a maze of tunnels. All around them leaking gas is setting off explosions as the pit begins to collapse. They’re trapped and they’ve got to get out…fast. An eerie miner appears and offers to help lead the way to safety…but didn’t this colliery shut years ago?
“I didn’t know anything about our history before I made this film” says Jessica Ashcroft, who plays Amy, one of the Morris Dancers, in The Tally “I’ve never been down a mine before and I loved it.”
Her sentiments are echoed by David Madden, who plays one of the Morris Dancing competition judges.
“Higher Folds doesn’t feel like a mining community any more, even though my granddad worked down the pits and told me some tales” he says “Making the film was really good and I’d like to do something like this again.”
The Tally was made with support from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT). Trustee Jim Crewdson says:
“Anyone who watches this brilliant film will learn about the proud coal mining past of Higher Folds as well as the community spirit which is very much alive and well. The creative industries are playing a major part in the North West’s regeneration and the vocational skills picked up by the film makers will be invaluable in the future. The CRT is very happy to support such a worthwhile project.”
The Tally premieres Monday 26th November 7:15pm at the Pie Factory, Broadway, Salford Quays with special guest from Emmerdale, Cleveland Campbell. Tickets for the public are free.
Phone REELmcr on 0161 226 4487 or e-mail info@reelmcr.co.uk
For photos, press tickets, interviews or any further information contact:
Stephen Kingston
07957 982960
stephenk@care4free.net
* Says Alison Surtees of Creative Industries in Salford (CRIS):
“CRIS has worked with over 40 members of the Higher Fold community for the last two years and, although challenging, has found that there is a real spark with the young people and older generations alike. This community has lived through some tough years with high unemployment and low aspirations. Hopefully our film has helped them to recognise their potential…”
* Says Claire Stride, Producer of The Tally:
"The project has been a lot of hard work but I'm glad we managed to create a film that brought together two elements that appeared to embrace what is important to the Higher Folds community - the heritage of coal mining & Morris Dancing. It was a pure joy to work with the group and eventually involve both ex-miners and the local Morris Dancing troop. I hope this is only the beginning of REELmcr's relationship with Higher Folds."
* Says REELmcr’s Jacqui Carroll:
“Having supported the miners during the strike in the dark days of Thatcher’s Britain, I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to work on this film and meet these brave men. I still get choked up when I think about what happened to our mining industry and these young people need to understand where they are from…”
* Says actress and acting coach on The Tally, Danielle Henry:
It was a great experience working with the community in Higher Folds. It was really lovely watching so many of them grow in confidence. I think working on the project gave them a good idea of what it might be like to work in the industry as a professional and there was so much talent in the group that I wouldn’t be surprised if a few a them decided to pursue film making as a career.”
* Says Jamie Spoorman who plays young Charlie Nelson in The Tally:
“I was very excited to do the film because I’d not done one before. I like living in Higher Folds but I didn’t know it was an ex mining community. My favourite thing was getting filmed and going to Wigan Pier.”
* Says Fred Savin – an ex miner who plays older Charlie Nelson in The Tally:
“I thought it was a good idea for the community to bring the youngsters into this project. I really enjoyed making the film and when we did the explosion in the mine it reminded of the original pit disaster and the people lost…”