The first of our performances in the Bilborough area of Nottingham this show looked at the 1950s days of the estate and the sense of community that was fostered as hundreds of new families were rehoused there. Meanwhile, at the Department of Home Affairs in Bexley Heath the minister in charge of such new developments has a hankering to do more than just observe…

“Over the last few months Hanby and Barrett have been out and about in Bilborough trying to find out as much as we can about this place where you all live. (If we didn’t speak to you we probably spoke to somebody that you know.) And after around one thousand one cups of tea and endless chocolate biscuits we are proud to present our new show.

“And this is no ordinary show, but a rollicking mixture of comedy, drama, film and fun.

“The Road to Bilborough tells of prefabs and double steels, of bonfire parties on every crescent and of hundreds upon hundreds of young families arriving here in the 1950s ready to forge a new community.

“It is a spy story, a story about families and neighbours, and a story that will make you laugh. Performed by members of the local community – both on screen and in person – this is a show for all the family about the people and places where you live. So come along and see what we’ve been up to. It’s absolutely free.”

Funded by the University of Nottingham.

Dates

Thu 23rd Apr 7:00pm – Bilborough Library
Fri 24th Apr 7:30pm – Sheila Russell Centre
Sat 25th Apr 7:30pm – St John’s Hall
Tue 28th Apr 7:30pm – Bilborough Baptist Church
Wed 29th Apr 7:30pm – Birchover Community Centre
2009

Cast

Narrator – Andy Barrett
Agent P – Peter Frost
Nigel – Christopher Frost
Bert Bilborough – Russell Walters
Dorothy Bilborough – Lauren Henson
Lily – Margaret Ogelsby
Danny Bilborough – Adam Rowland
Margaret Bilborough – Kaylee Hempenstall
Jim – Keith Havers
Elizabeth – Holly Leivers
Catherine – Lucy Leivers

Co-operative Womens’ Guild Film
The Wigman Ladies:
Doris Cook, Jean Fletcher, Joan Fletcher, Joyce Gyte, Karen Henshaw, Barbara Herrod, Daphne Johnson, Lillian Kershaw, Mary Shaw
and Jean Welsh.

Think Tank Official 1 – Lewis Maiella
Think Tank Official 2 – Nick Newman
Rose - Barbara Wisbey

Good Neighbour Film
Presenter – Danial Hall
The Bells Lane Surprise Club:
Cyril Bainbridge, Gill Bainbridge, Philip Bainbridge, Holly Booth, Brandon Chaplin, Carmen Chaplin, Malachi Dennis, Alice Drohan, Jordan Edwards, Liam Edwards, Melinda Edwards, Courtney Hallam, Bradley Lancaster, Kelvin Lancaster, Mitchell Lancaster, Aiden Williamson, Callum Williamson, Kieran Whitehead and Luke Whitehead.
And also with:
Arthur Walters, Ruth Havers, Simon Stead, Kristina Stead, Alena Stead, Daniel Stead, Marshall Dawn, Gill Splading-Frost, Marilyn Rowley, Susan Jones, Martina Radze, William Radze-Baker, Kristian Radze-Hall and Isabella Radze

Peter
Stuart Bull

Young People’s Exercise Film
Mrs Whittlesea and pupils of Melbury Primary School:
Bethany Allcock, Yunique Bertram, Katie Blanchett, Daniel Bowen, Chelsea Bradley, Abbie Brierley, Malachi Castillo-Williams, Poppy Chamberlin, Connor Chipperfield, Kieran Chipperfield, Craig Cotterill, Jason Cotterill, Bradley Cross, Daniel Drew,Tamsin Elliot, Kyle Fox,
Abbie Goodacre, Courtney Graley, Alex Hallam, Jake Harrison, Shelbie Harrison, Holly Henson, Charlie Holland, Thomas Hoggarth, Aaron Jackson, Katie Jackson, Jade Jones, Jessica Keefe, Tyrell Knight, Demi Lawson, Chance Limb, Sophie Lydon, Cameron Middleton, Owen Morris, Millie Moss, Demi Muress, Jordon Mynett, Charlotte Neale, Jack Neville, Rhianne Norman, Tainna Powell, Luke Reynolds, Courtney Richards, Ally Robson, Ceryn Robson, Romy Robson, Libby Scotney, Thomas Shields, Racquel Simms, Adam Smith, Michael Swinn, Victoria Swinn, Sophie Swinscoe, Dylan Taylor, Paige Wheelhouse, Lennon Wilkinson and Benjamin Worley

Written by Andy Barrett
Produced by Julian Hanby
Directed by  Hanby and Barrett

With thanks to:

Linda Taylor, MsWalker, Mrs Pritchet, Mrs Morgan, Mrs Lees and all of the staff and pupils of Melbury School; Dominic Shaw; Owen Baxter; everyone at The Sheila Russell Centre; Rev. Mandy Cartwright and all at St John the Baptist Church; Ian Oxlade; The Staff and Residents of The Beeches, Hanover Court and Lincoln Court; Susan Jones; Di Burch, Alison Ingram, Chris Hall and Pat Thomson; and all at Bilborough Library.

Special thanks to everyone that has stopped and taken the time to talk to us and to tell us about their own
Road to Bilborough…

We are grateful to Keith Wood, G. L. Roberts, Edgar Lloyd and Nottingham City Libraries for images that have been used for this show.