K.T.F Productions presents
Last Train to Wigan
By Bob Hawxwell
A play about Life, Love and Northern Soul
“You’re here today and you’re gone tomorrow” - Dean Parish 1967
From The Mecca to Va Va’s, The Twisted Wheel to The Golden Torch, and finally The Wigan Casino Club. Taking the audience on a journey to the Northern Soul nightclubs of the mid seventies. Last Train to Wigan is a tale of minimum wage romance, amphetamine fuelled all-nighters, talc covered dance floors and rare imported vinyls. Forget glam rock, prog rock, Donny Osmond and David Cassidy. This is the stomping sound of Northern Soul. When middle aged Mike Walker finds his box of 7” records in the attic, it brings back memories of the two great loves of his life – Stef Meadows and the Casino Club.
This is a play about keeping the faith, written and directed by Northern Soul survivor Bob Hawxwell. On its debut the self-financed piece sold out the 200-seat courtyard theatre at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead. Such is the devotion of Northern Soul fans that people made the journey from Aberdeen to Berkshire just to see the play. Also in attendance was acclaimed director Tony Palmer who gave permission for footage from his Wigan Casino documentary to be used. Since then the troupe have fully embraced the “soulie” ethos and have been living the lifestyle to fund their way to Edinburgh.
The play is fiercely true to the spirit of Northern Soul and can be enjoyed by both fanatics and first-timers. A tale of the redemptive power of music and of growing up, told at a pace that echoes the exuberance of the scene and the BPM of a Ric Tic record. Last Train to Wigan’s minimalist staging is brought to life by its talented young cast. With its original footage and stomping soundtrack all you need to enjoy this story of friendship, love and music is a bit of soul.