Wallwein leads a masterclass about Ewan McColl

Your Local Arena presents: 

The Ballad of Ewan MacColl 

films, poetry, writing masterclass 

Screening from 10am on Wednesday 21 October 2020  

to 10pm on Sunday 25 October 2020 

A thriving centre of the Industrial Revolution, Salford had, in Ewan MacColl’s words, become a ‘Dirty Old Town’ by the twentieth century. This complex man, born in 1915, was a singer, songwriter, actor and labour activist who went on to become the undisputed leader of the British folk scene. But his story is also the story of working-class resistance in north-west England through the last period of the industrial age. BBC Arena’s The Ballad of Ewan MacColl combines music, history and politics to celebrate Ewan MacColl’s life and legacy, as told by those who knew him, including his wife Peggy Seeger, whose work is still committed to the radical politics of these times.   

For five days only, Manchester Literature Festival brings you this evocative Arena film from the BBC archives, directed by Tim May. Exploring the relationship between culture and class politics which MacColl epitomised then and now are: performer Jennifer Reid, presenter and journalist Stuart Maconie and spoken word poet Tony Walsh, as well as an exclusive appearance by Peggy Seeger. Enjoy new poems inspired by the film from local poets Cheryl Martin and Ella Otomewo and learn how to start your own personal writing journey with a masterclass from acclaimed poet, playwright and lyricistLouise Wallwein. 

To watch the films, read the poems and see the masterclass, visit the MLF events page and click on the day's link:

https://www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events

For more information on the film from Arena producer and editor Anthony Wall, plus for interviews with The Ballad of Ewan MacColl director Tim May, and Richard Shaw, producer of an upcoming Sky programme on Ewan MacColl, visit:

https://lhannah.com/ewanmaccoll

Your Local Arena is a Lucy Hannah & Speaking Volumes co-production  

featuring BBC Arena’s film archive. Funded by Arts Council England.