Kitty Bridge's Pocket Book of Tunes, Stokesley Town Hall

KITTY Bridge's Pocket Book of Tunes is a collaboration between Common Ground Theatre, based in York, and musicians Moira Clarke and Paul Baldwin from the local folk band, Over the Yardarm.

The play is a lively mix of lyrical storytelling, music, song, dance and a versatile one-woman performance by playwright, storyteller and actress Hannah Davies.

Common Ground uses local spaces to tell stories, and having performed in pubs, coffee bars and local meeting places, brought this remarkable piece to Stokesley Town Hall.

Kitty Bridge’s pocket book dates from 1745 and was discovered in the mid-1970s. It contains poetry, tunes and country dance steps.

Davies, who wrote the piece as well as performing in it, describes it as a playful and irreverent nod to the 18th century.

“It’s a play about music, freedom, greed and ownership,” she said. “Kitty starts her travels in Yorkshire and discovers scoundrels, rogues and vagabonds in ballrooms, gin-sodden back streets and on the open road.”

The hall became an intimate shared space with actors, audience and musicians mingling together. Lace cloths were draped on old clothes horses and paper birds were hung amid twinkling lights giving a flavour of Georgian England.

The fast-paced adventure began as Kitty moved among the audience, bringing to life her tale, skilfully accompanied by the musicians playing lively and uplifting music using 13 different instruments between them.

This was storytelling at its best, Shakespearian in its vivid imagery and lyrical in the style of Tom Jones and Moll Flanders.

Davies slipped effortlessly from character to character, bringing all to life with her detailed study and wry humour, from the endearing Kitty to the haughty Duchess of Salisbury.

The audience and was given props and participated at certain moments, and by act two was cheering Kitty on as she thwarted and defeated her enemies. Tables were pushed back for teaching steps from the pocket book and the audience danced the finale. The play is touring until April 4, details on cgtheatreco.uk.

Jan Hunter