A MUSICIAN has written a play about a well-known West Cumbrian character.
John Marcangelo, of Whitehaven, who has dedicated his life to music and art, working with members of the Electric Light Orchestra, has written a musical about the well-known Whitehaven character Sal Madge.
The musical, of the same name, will tell the story of the iconic woman who lived in West Cumbria in the Victorian era.
Marcangelo, who has previously written Clog Dance, which was performed in 2007 and 2017, will now host the new musical Sal Madge at Rosehill Theatre.
The show will run every night from Tuesday, October 28, until Saturday, November 1.
Mr Marcangelo, said: "It's about Sal Madge, who was a local character from the town. She lived in Whitehaven in the 19th century.
"She worked in the pits, she was a character, she had manly features, she dressed as a man, used to drink with the men, fight, and gamble, which was pretty strange in Victorian times.
"It's a fictitious story about her life; it's not a biography. We're rehearsing it at the moment and will be performing it at Rosehill in October."
The play is said to be based on the 'unique' and 'formidable' Sal Madge, who 'challenged gender stereotypes in the 19th century.'
This story is an 'imagined tale of her early life and its consequences.' The musical offers a glimpse of Whitehaven in the 1800s, with John's 'sensitive and all-encompassing' love of his hometown 'apparent throughout.'
It has been directed by David Simpson, with the world premiere taking place at Rosehill.
Catherine Marcangelo, John's wife, added: "John's first musical Clog Dance was received with great acclaim at the Civic Hall in 2007 and 2017, which was based on the William Pitt Disaster in Whitehaven.
"People approached him and said he should write something more about the town, and so the late author Colin Fleming suggested to John, why not use Sal Madge as a character.
"She was the head of the rocket brigade, which was like the fire brigade that went into the pits.
"In those days, she challenged gender stereotypes; however, nowadays, the way she was would be much more accepted in society."
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