A real air-raid siren heralded the opening of the auditorium doors to this opening event of SparkFest 2019. Using the words of Bath residents that survived the catastrophic raids of April 1942.

 

An eight strong ensemble are stood as we enter in a litter filled stage. Shreds of newspaper lie around like the rubble-laden streets of Bath in the days after. The stories are strong and are told with an honesty and strong sense of responsibility to the Bath citizens who kindly let them use their moving and beautiful memories.

 

The cast shift from story to story with ease and some of the physical representations helped create the sense of time and period although I did feel that there was not enough light and shade within the piece to enable us to truly appreciate some of the very desperate tales.

 

That said the older members of the audience where very clearly transported back to those terrifying times in their childhoods and all in all a lovely project that brings real-life memories from Bath residents of yester year told by some of it’s newest Bath City custodians .

 

Jack Rose

​