A NEW play about the Tolpuddle Martyrs is set to premiere at Colchester Arts Centre.

Fresh from an acclaimed run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, and after last year’s sold-out show of the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Townsend Productions will perform their latest production, We Will Be Free next week.

Set in 1834, the show follows the extraordinary true story of George and Betsy Loveless.

He was a Methodist preacher and leader of the six Dorset farm labourers who were convicted and condemned to transportation to Australia for swearing a secret oath to form a union to fight against a succession of wage cuts inflicted by the local landowner.

As with the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, this historically-important story is told through Andy Vine's powerful political cartoons and animation, as well as puppetry and music from one of the country’s most popular folk singers and squeezebox players, John Kirkpatrick.

During his distinguished career, John has worked with artists such as Roy Bailey, Martin Carthy and Steeleye Span.

John is also a regular session musician and has played on numerous film sound tracks, most recently the Oscar- nominated Pirates – Adventures with Scientists, as well as in the Royal National Theatre Production of Lark Rise To Candleford.

For We Will Be Free, John has made new musical arrangements of the songs and rallying hymns of the Dorset labouring classes that have been written and performed down the years.

We Will Be Free
Colchester Arts Centre,
Church Street, Colchester.
April 1. Doors 7.30pm, show 8pm.
£12, £10, £5 students.
01206 500900
www.colchesterartscentre.com