A Cine Film Celebration 90 years of Bridport art, culture and community
An archive film show has been specially curated for Bridport 24 Town of Culture.
Dope, Rope and Hope: A Cine Film Celebration illustrates how the town has long been a hotspot for art and culture.
The tailor-made screening will be shown at Bridport Arts Centre on Thursday 12 December by Dorset-based charity Windrose Rural Media Trust, which has put together the tailor-made screening from its extensive Dorset film archive.
Tickets are £11 and are available online at https://www.bridport-arts.com/event/dope-rope-and-hope-a-cine-film-celebration/ or by calling the arts centre box office 01308 424204.
Windrose founder Trevor Bailey said: ‘The selected films show how Bridport has always had a strong focus on people, place and culture.’
He will be presenting the show alongside local writer Margery Hookings, a former editor of The Bridport News who now works for Windrose as a freelance project leader, and Windrose cameraman James Harrison, who has digitised so much of the collection and added to the archive with more recent films.
Margery said: ‘The film show is a wonderful opportunity for residents old and new to see the town and surrounding villages in years gone by.
‘There is some terrific footage, including 1930s film of Symondsbury, the Bridport Pageant of 1953, the town’s pram derby and the 1930s melodrama, Dope Under Thorncombe, set in West Bay and made by amateur filmmaker Frank Trevett, along with more modern films made by Windrose capturing the people and scenes from this special corner of Dorset.
‘It will chime with people who have lived here all their lives, as well appealing to newer residents who have chosen to make their home here.
‘Bridport and West Dorset have changed over the years but that spirit of creativity remains the same.’
Dope Under Thorncombe included members of the Trevett family, including the late Rex Trevett, who, as head of music at Colfox School and leader of the Bridport Big Band, was such an inspiration to young people and played such a big part in forging the town’s musical legacy.
Another film clip will show part of The Bridport Pageant, a medium-sized event which comprised eight episodes of the town through the ages and involved 1,300 performers and six performances. This was impressive considering that Bridport in 1953 was only a small town of about 6,200 inhabitants.
The pageant was notable for its simplicity and humour. The main draw was the visit of Princess Margaret on the opening night.
Scenes from Bridport’s rope making past, cider making – and drinking – at Will’s Surgery in the Marshwood Vale, tales of smuggling at West Bay and a tour of Palmers Brewery will also be on the bill at the Arts Centre film show, which starts at 7.30pm.
Trevor said: ‘We’ve had great fun in putting this show together for Bridport. It really illustrates how creative the town and its people have been for so many years.’
Margery said: ‘Bridport as a town of culture might seem like a new invention, but it has always had that quirky, creative streak which has helped it stand out from other towns.’
Windrose Rural Media Trust is a registered charity and was set up under its earlier name of Trilith in 1984.
It carries out educational, archival and creative work in rural communities in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.
In 35 years Windrose has never had any regular funding but has developed a long succession of projects which respond to community needs, fundraising for them one by one.
One constant has been the saving of archive films of local life through collaboration with local people, along with the creation of new films to add to the archive. This has resulted in a large collection of films, which have been shown to the public at hundreds of shows in village halls, theatres and cinemas.
Visit windroseruralmedia.org for more information.
Gallery
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