New folk opera depicting history of Nuneaton

The Undoing of Polly Button

A Folk Opera by Katherine Fear

Local English and History teachers may be interested in this new work by a Nuneaton-educated songwriter, based upon a true story which shocked the town in 1832.

The brand new folk opera will premiere at Nuneaton's Abbey Theatre on Easter Saturday, 11 April. Links with George Eliot and with events in the town such as the decline of the ribbon industry, the election riots and the only outbreak of cholera are narrated and sung in this unique production. The show could act as an introduction to George Eliot and a depiction of local history which schools might wish to buy into during next academic year.  

Plot

Polly Button, a weaver with five children, was murdered in 1832 by her married lover while she was heavily pregnant with his child. John Danks was convicted and executed for this infamous crime which horrified the whole country. However, the newspapers saw Polly as “victim of her own gross immorality”, considering her at least partly responsible for her own demise.

At the heart of this story which has been worked into a poignant musical retelling, there is a battle for women’s rights, a mystery which may never be fully solved, and a lesson of resilience and unbelievable courage in the face of adversity. Watch and listen as the ghost of Polly teaches a young writer to “weave another world”.

Further Information

For further details, please visit the Polly Button Folk Opera Facebook page or phone Katherine on 07757 483342.

Twitter @pollybuttonfolk