THE Museum in the Park, Stroud, is hosting Spaniel in the Works Theatre Company’s moving performance about a Gloucestershire family in the First World War – Tommy Atkins and the Canary Girl.
The one hour play looks at how the war affected life not only for soldiers at the front but also the changes for the women at home. One of the big changes was the building of a munitions factory at Quedgeley where 3,000 women worked making shells. The chemicals they handled turned their skin yellow giving them the nickname of Canary girls.
Writer John Bassett said “Tommy Atkins and the Canary Girl looks at how war changed the lives of families forever. It explores the changes at home including zeppelin raids and rationing as well as the changing roles for women. The munitions factory workers were amongst the first to discover a new form of freedom through work, whilst their husbands were fighting at the Front. ”
Tommy Atkins and the Canary Girl. is part of a tour and is suitable for children over 10 years old. Tickets for the show, which takes place on Sunday, November 9 at 3pm, are available at £8 and £6 (museum friends) from the Museum in the Park on 01453 763394.
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