MEET the Creaky Grinders – an intrepid sextet of local musicians who are ensuring the Castle Players will be perfectly in tune for their production of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors.
The group meet regularly at Winston Village Hall, but first got together in February 2019, in readiness for planned performances later that summer.
Even though the Covid pandemic delayed the production, the band continued to meet – both online and face-to-face – and have now perfected an eclectic mix of rock, pop and folk tunes which are threaded through this year’s production.
Classic tunes, such as Ian Dury’s Hit me with your Rhythm Stick, The Animals’ We Gotta Get Outta This Place and Nick Cave’s Peaky Blinders theme Red Right Hand all feature on the playlist.
The play’s director, Gordon Duffy-McGhie, said: “We selected songs that reflect the play’s story and enhance our Peaky Blinders style design aesthetic.
“Shakespeare often used popular music and songs to draw his audiences in and give them an immediate emotional connection to his plays.
“We want this year’s production to have a real festival feel and with the help of The Creaky Grinders we preparing to transform the lawns of The Bowes Museum into our very own mini-Glastonbury Festival!’
The Comedy of Errors will be performed on the back lawn of The Bowes Museum from Tuesday, July 5, to Saturday July 9.
There is no grandstand seating, so audience members are asked to bring their own chairs.
Tickets are available from The Witham box office online at www.thewitham.org.uk, by phone on 01833 631107, or in person between 10am to 4pm during the centre’s opening times.
