Hearts Of Steel - The Reviews

You may recall that I made a big thing of previewing The Hearts of Steel DVD launch Presentation - well here are two Reviews. 

The Show was performed twice in the day, both to very different sorts of audiences, hence the two reviews.

Phoebe and Sylvia report on the afternoon performance :

Hearts of Steel – Monday 14th March 2011 afternoon
By Phoebe Taylor-Thorpe & Sylvia May

It may seem a strange concept to some of us that the steelworks of Rotherham and Sheffield
are now ‘history’. We grew up with the likes of Brown Bayleys, and Steel, Peech and Tozer
ever-present in the background. It’s odd to think that they no longer exist.

We now know Templeborough – the gateway between Sheffield and Rotherham - as a place of
high-tech development, and the home of Magna – now a museum, reminding us of our past.
But what about all that ‘history’ we’ve left behind?

Well, what better way to celebrate the history of the Rotherham steelworks, than by the
production of a DVD, supported by many local organisations, including Magna (now part of
what was previously Templeborough Works) showing historical footage of the works, narrated
by the people who were there, and who remember how it was when the steelworks were in
their hey-day. And the poems and songs, written and performed by local writers, are the icing
on the cake (or is that the slag on the molten steel; the crozzle on the wall……..I digress…).

Monday afternoon, 14th March, was the first of two performances heralding the launch of
‘Hearts of Steel’, a film made by Mat Fleming, and others. Ray Hearne introduced an hour of
entertainment, including some of the writers themselves, performing their own songs,
interspersed with excerpts from the film.

Ray kicked off with a wonderful song artfully including the many children in the audience who
joined in with the chorus, and celebrating the rich Rotherham accent. It was written by Ray,
Karen Mulcahey and the Dalton Youth Service, and was inspired by a lady who used to say,
“Air’s no good unless tha can see it”…..
John Heaps, dressed up in Steel-worker’s garb, told some amusing tales of the old days in the
steel works, including one about black bogies (yes, the nose variety) and a practical joke
involving basic toilets, newspaper set alight, and burnt bums!
Among the quality performances of the afternoon were Mike Lally, who gave us a rendition of
his song, ‘City of the Big Steel Boom’, and Steve Gascoigne, who sang his composition, ’Rise
Up’.

Roy Blackman, one of our local Treasures, is famous for his songs and poems about the local
area, often inspired by his time spent in the steelworks. ‘Pot of Golden Tea’ is one such song,
which describes the pouring of the molten steel from the crucible. It was particularly delightful
and very touching to hear his words being sung with great enthusiasm by the latest generation.

A most enjoyable afternoon, and one which I, and I hope, the children, will always remember,
as it is their history.

And Sue and Barry Sutherland checked out the evening performance:


Heart’s of Steel. Black Bogies and Burn’t Bum’s.

On Monday , 14th March, at Rotherham’s Civic Theatre the ‘ Heart’s of Steel’ show
was performed. A shorter version was performed especially for school children during
the afternoon. The children loved the stories of black bogies!

The evening began with Rotherham’s own bard, Ray Hearne introducing the event as
M.C.

The Mayoress of Rotherham thanked all concerned.

The background to the show had begun two years earlier during the Rotherham Art
Festival when a writer’s session was held in the Spiegel Tent in All Saint’s Square.
People were invited to write poems, recall memories or write songs. Some people
brought along already completed material regarding Rotherham’s Iron and Steel
Industry

Ray Hearne ran this session and Karen Mulcahey joined him with young people from
Dalton. These sessions produced a greater awareness of the lost heritage of the steel
industry and produced a new song…Air’s No Good Unless Tha Can See It!
Ray lead us through a wonderful evening of performers, some of whom had never
performed on stage never mined in front of a large audience. The backdrop was
archive pictures of Rotherham’s glorious age of Steel making, interjected with clips
from a new DVD/ CD depicting life in the steel works and the surrounding area( Only
£6.00 on the night…What a bargain!!!)

Each of the cast performed their poems, memories and songs, accompanied or
unaccompanied. They captivated and touched the hearts and souls of everyone in the
audience. They were all amazing and in particlar Roy Blackman’s rendition of ‘ode to
a sky lark’ was gob smacking!. It was also heart-warming to see and hear Mick Shaw
singing his song…My Final Day… . MORE PLEASE.

The Kimberworth Male Voice Choir were sensational as ever.

The evening concluded with the whole cast , DVD/CD producers, Karen Mulcahey
and choir on stage. Ray Hearne told us yet again about the bargain DVD. We all sang
Ray’s song in progress and raised the roof… yet to be completed.

Everyone that I spoke to at the end of the evening was full of praise and had
obviously had a great evening.

For me personally the whole evening made me realise just what a fantastic place
Rotherham was and just how gigantic the Steel Industry had been. It brought back
memories of my life in Templeborough aged 19 and the vast amount of people
employed there. The No.69 bus queue’s both in Bridegate and Sheffield Road .

I feel proud to be a Rotherham lass, Bloody good night, Bloody well done, Ordinary
working people doing extra ordinary feats.

Thank you for a wonderful evening