Crossing the Line
Step back in time and delve into the rich tapestry of migration tales from Black Country's industrial legacy…
It’s 1958 in a drop forge in Oldbury. A wild cat strike is in progress. A faulty machine has injured a worker and it has brought the factory to a halt. The cleaner is looking for the resulting mess to clear up and an irate businessman turns up looking for his missing consignment of hammers. There’s more going on here than meets the eye…
As the story unfolds we discover something of each of their pasts and what is driving them on to the future. Rohit wants to escape the limitations that his foundry puts on him because of his race. Jim wants the world to know how even innocent seeming industries can be contributing to the development of the atom bomb, and Myrtle is busy cleaning up everyone else’s mess – just as she did in the war whilst driving the ambulances.
Based on research and original interviews, ‘Crossing the Line’ was performed over five Friday evenings in August 2024 as a part of Summer Lates at the Black Country Living Museum. Using the Joe’s Tools drop forge as its setting, it brought together three Black Country Touring performers - Elexi Walker, Jack Trow and Vimal Korpal - with historic characters from the Museum to create a rich and entertaining 20 minute performance, which repeated many times over each Friday evening.
‘Crossing the Line’ is a continuation of our ongoing relationship with the Black Country Living Museum, where we explore together the telling of local stories in and around the museum’s site. It follows on from many years of collaboration and directly from the success of the previous year’s show, ‘A Spanner in the Works’.
Audience Feedback
“Nice to see cultural diversity and representation in history. Would like to see more of this.”
“Great use of authentic space and mix of people. I did not know that about Oldbury! Thank you!”
“Loved the names and diverse actors... it brought hidden history to life.”
“As a 3rd generation British Punjabi from the Midlands, it meant a lot to finally see representation! Excellent work.”
“This was so relevant to what is still happening now.
Well done!”
Photo Gallery
Crossing the Line is presented by Black Country Touring in partnership with Black Country Living Museum, as a part of the Summer Lates.
Photographs © Anand Chhabra, 2024.
