On 28th June drama students from Stagecoach Performing Arts were rewarded with a surprise visit during their rehearsals.  Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, turned up to watch them rehearse a new play written by Walsall playwright Ian Henery.  Also in attendance were corporate sponsors Red Moon Brewery, Xin Marketing, Chinese community organisations, Birmingham Television and members of Aldridge Photographic Society. 

  "Mike Macey and I were on hand", said Sheila Macey from Aldridge Photographic Society "to photograph Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands who made a surprise visit to watch students of Stagecoach Performing Arts rehearse a new, hard-hitting musical production written by Ian Henery which highlights social injustice and how it might be overcome.  The students were fantastic and we really enjoyed watching the performance for the Mayor of the West Midlands.  We took lots of lovely photographs".    Ian Henery was commissioned to write a trilogy of plays called "Home" which explores family, sacrifice, place and time from Chinese and British perspectives in the socio-economic context of 3 significant periods of history.

    The first play in the trilogy, commissioned by China West Midlands 2020 and supported by Andy Street, is based on the sacrifices of the Chinese Labour Corps during the First World war and continues with a second story around the 1940s/50s with the third play set in contemporary Britain.    "It`s fantastic" said Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, "that students from Stagecoach Performing Arts are exploring the theme of home for China West Midlands 2020.  For many people in the West Midlands home is in 2 places - where one was born and grew up and where they are living and working now.  I am committed to making every community feel at home in the West Midlands and projects like this really do help in bridging the gap between different continents and cultures".  

Aldridge Photographic Society, a vibrant and friendly group of photographers, meets on Thursday evenings at 7.45pm at Aldridge Community Centre, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge.  Visitors to the Society`s events are always welcome.   

For further information: Email: aldridgeps@gmail.com

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Website: www.aldridgephotographicsociety.com