New Documentary - Making Of Once Upon A Time In Wigan

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have loved to see the play!!!!!

Reminded me just how good your play was paul........

viphitman, on 14 December 2011 - 12:55 PM, said:

me too looks great Paul, you thinking of doing it again

Just watched this - excellent, got to be time the play actually toured local theatres again!

paul-s, on 14 December 2011 - 11:57 AM, said:

Enjoyed the play immensely, probably the best representation of the time and place that has surfaced so far

This is brilliant I saw it in London when it was at Canary Wharf way .

Wish someone would write something from a "today" perspective looking back to when the main characters were young.

I think the scene as it is today with its history looking back could make a great play/film.

Take five souls today ......and turn back the hands of time

Thanks for the nice comments. I did this documentary to set the history of its creation straight. Seeing the footage also reminded me of how each night was like a great all nighter with the audience creating the atmosphere. I made it for the soul scene not the West End..

Then perhaps someone else could run with my suggestion

I think it would make a fantastic "Arts" film seeing the children/younger generation of today trying to champion a passion that their parents had , may still have ...sort of promote things forward ,plus the music we hear today is far more exciting because it has grown in many forms. ..yes I see this as a Cannes winner

oh thanks for that, I'm sat here balling my f**kin eyes out. beats the hell out of Soulboy.

I really enjoyed the play when it came to The Lowry in Salford Quays.

Unbeknown to me, and to my horror, my Mum and Dad decided to go and see the play in Coventry to find out a bit more about 'what their son has been into for the last 20 odd years'.

We subsequently had a somewhat difficult conversation about illegal substances!

I had a lot of explaining to do.

Was I a man or a mouse...did I come clean?

I'll say no more other than..."pass the cheese"

We saw the play in Southend, it was great! Really good night out.

A tear in my eye too, just like on the first night, and other nights i saw it.

Some say art and northern soul don't mix.. It did on these nights..... Magic.....

Still see the lead guys out and about....

A magic time back then in Manc With the CIS around the same time also.

Was a great Glasgow night also, loved it

We went to see it twice, great stuff!

Now that made me smile.

macca, on 14 December 2011 - 03:47 PM, said:

What did?

This play is the best representation ever of our scene , made with passion , love and humour and it shows in every scene . The first night at the Contact was electric . The second time I saw it also at the Contact I took my daughter on leaving she said " Now I understand you better "
Thanks Paul

60ssoulboy, on 14 December 2011 - 01:08 PM, said:

I wont do it again as the playwright has changed it into a crap pantomime and allowed dodgy directors and theatres to rehash it with no respect to the scene or the work and love that went into creating this production.
There is a vast difference between a script and a production. A production brings a script to life and for that you need a soulful director who was there and cares about the reality. The script was born from my rehearsals and thats why others dont fully understand it and make a mess of it. They miss the nuances and all thats not written on the page. Please do not waste money on revivals that pretend to be the original. The playwright sold it down the swanny for a fiver and will continue to do so as long as he and others can make a fast buck from it..

KTF..

Fantastic,,,,

Was lucky enough to see the play first time round (Queens Hall, Widnes) and like may others it echoed our time and experiance at Station Rd like nothing thats been done about the scene since - it also shows that there was a little more to Wigan than just Frank Wilson and baggy fookin pants. (like some would have you believe!)

Interestingly the only piece of memorabilia I own about the scene is a Poster from the Lowry advertising this very play.

We saw it in Oldham Paul, It made me go all cold and plenty of lumps in the throat, and i never went to Wigan! It was really well Directed, written and acted, thoroughly enjoyed it and would deffo go see it again if it did the rounds again!

Simsy, on 14 December 2011 - 03:51 PM, said:

Watching the video and being reminded of certain situations in my dim and distant past. Sorry to have been so minimalist on this occasion.

Agree with above comments, it was a great play which should be doing the rounds again. Saw it at the Guild Hall in Preston; packed audience with bag loads of atmosphere and a great Cast who where very good.
Went to the end of show Soul Night at the Swallow Hotel (I think that is what it was called) and met some of the Cast who where great and made time to speak with anyone who wanted to ask any questions and they also had quite a few turns on the floor which was good to see.

Would definately go and see the play again!!!!!!!!!

paul-s, on 14 December 2011 - 04:22 PM, said:

I did mean it would be good to see it in it's original form again Paul!

macca, on 14 December 2011 - 06:23 PM, said:

Ah no worries mate, thought that was the case. Just curious and interested to know.

Brilliant Paul