Wednesbury's greatest writer celebrated in seven-date theatre tour

The Amazing Mr Hackwood, which tells the story of a legendary Black Country historian and man of letters, is coming to seven venues in the West Midlands.

Frederick Hackwood wrote more than 30 non-fiction books, most numerously on the history of the Black Country and West Midlands of England, and was a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a member of the William Salt Archaeological Society.

He was headmaster of a number of schools around in the West Midlands, and for most of his life he lived at Bridge Street, Wednesbury.

The production, by Smethwick playwright Adrian Johnson, will be performed in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Smethwick, Wednesbury, Halesowen, West Bromwich and Solihull, the biggest tour ever mounted to celebrate next year's centenary of Hackwood's death.

Mr Johnson said he was able to produce the one-hour play with the backing of Creative Black Country, and the National Lottery stepped in to make the theatre tour possible. It follows on from his ‘Babsolutely Fabulous’ last year, which sold out six venues across the Black Country.

He said: "Hackwood is a tremendous Victorian enthusiast who loved writing and celebrated local customs, traditions, pantomime, Shakespeare and helped to found the English Football Association while writing thousands of informative and humorous articles for the local press in Wednesbury and Lichfield."

The cast includes a community choir, singing many of Hackwood’s carefully researched, cheery, drinking songs, while West Midland actors, Louise Stokes, Stephanie Miles and Billy Scott play the roles of his wife Sara Simkin, his daughter Louisa Hackwood and his mother Sarah Hackwood.

"They recall with humour and great vigour the achievements and enthusiasm Hackwood has for everything good about the Black Country," he said.

The play is set just before Christmas 1918, and Hackwood is confined to bed while his mother, wife and daughter come together. 

"They recall, with laughter, Frederick's amazing stories, ale house songs, raucous mummers plays, football, dance, myths, legends as well as how Charles Dickens influenced his work from a very young age," said Mr Johnson.

"But change is in the air too, a General Election, sensational tales of suffragette Christabel Pankhurst in Smethwick, and thoughts to leave the Black Country for London are promoted by Frederick’s idealistic daughter, Louisa.”

The show will be performed at Walsall Leather Museum at 2pm on May 31, at Halesowen Library Theatre at 2pm on June 5, and at Thimblemill Library in Smethwick on June 6 at 7.30pm. It then comes to Wolverhampton Arena for a 7.30pm show on June 7, followed by a performance at West Bromwich Central Library on June 12 at 7.30pm. It then goes to Solihull Core Studio Theatre for a 7.30pm performance on June 13, before the closing performance at Wednesbury Museum at midday on June 14.