National tour of Human Cargo

This is the first night of a national your which leads into Refugee Week across June 18 to 24. In St Albans they will be partnering with Herts Welcomes Syrian Families and St Albans for Refugees, who will be at the event to talk about their work.

In 2017 Matthew Crampton stirred the folk scene with his adaptation of Peter Bellamy’s The Transports.

Securing full houses and standing ovations in venues across Britain, and again during a second tour in January 2018. Formerly a leading speechwriter, and teacher of rhetoric at places like London’s Globe Theatre, Matthew is now known as a storyteller, author and folk singer, with a growing sideline in music hall.

Now he returns with a new adaptation of his book Human Cargo: Stories and Songs of Emigration, Slavery and Transportation.

He has collaborated with American traditional musician Jeff Warner. He has long made Britain his second musical home, arriving each year to tour folk clubs and festivals.

A founding officer of Folk Alliance International, and past president of the Country Dance and Song Society, Jeff’s pedigree is matched by his remarkable ability to entertain people from both within and outside the world of folk music.

Together, they cast light on human migration, giving voice to the people actually aboard the slave ships and emigrant boats and hope to frame issue of today, along with history and humanity.

The performance will also feature stories researched in and around St Albans, as part of the Parallel Lives project.

The St Albans partners, Herts Welcomes Syrian Families and St Alban for Refugees is working with St Albans Folk Music to organise a follow up benefit event in Refugee Week, involving contributions from Syrian refugees, local historians and musicians plus Syrian food.

The Maltings Arts Theatre, Level 2, 26 The Maltings, St Albans, AL1 3HL, Friday May 11, 8pm. Details: maltingsartstheatre.co.uk