Fresque du Bridiers 2014

Most of you will have heard of the fresque at Bridiers, many of you will have seen the play, some of you will know someone who has taken part and a few lucky people may have taken part themselves. The “spectacle” at Bridiers is an annual sound and light event in which hundreds of actors act out the history of the Limousin against the backdrop of a medieval tower.

Between the 1st & 4th August this year, Bridiers commemorates World War 1. The play focuses on the years 1914 to 1918 In the spirit of both remembering the war and celebrating peace, Filderstdadt, La Souterraine’s twin town in Germany, and Selby, Filderstdadt’s twin town in UK are sending some of their people to join the actors of Bridiers.

So how might you get involved? The most obvious way is as an actor. You don’t need any acting experience to do this, just enthusiasm and energy, and it is great fun! The focus on World War 1 means that there will be English and German voices heard during the play and Castaways, La Souterraine’s British amateur dramatics’ society, is providing voices. Men willing to sing Christmas carols are also needed for a recording to be made in May/June.

The visitors from Selby need a warm welcome from the British community here.  In particular, accommodation is needed for some of the people who are expected. If you live within a reasonable travelling distance of La Souterraine or if you are acting in the play yourself, you could be in an ideal position to help out. The English Library at La Souterraine will provide a meeting place for the visitors.

The Selby contingent will also need help during the play, since they are unlikely to speak much French. The play depends on its actors being in the right place at the right time dressed in the right costume.  People will be needed backstage to act as dressers and translators for these actors.

So how can you get involved? There will be a public meeting at 6 pm on Thursday February 20th in Salle 2 of the Ancienne Mairie at La Souterraine. Please come along if you can. You can also email us (but in the first instance via PM) for more information or to volunteer to take part in some way.

We are looking forward to your help.

Well, last evening's registration session showed a rather poor turnout, barely a score of folks willing to participate in August's spectacular. Come on, your town needs you! It will, more than likely, be the most fun you will have with your clothes on this year. There is still plenty of time to get involved, dash off an e-mail to britishatbridiers@laposte.net and see what you can do.

I was going to reply to your first message but never did.......we would have loved to get involved but just too far away for us I'm afraid....... sorry. K

LATEST SCORE: Anglo participants 26, German participants 40+ & French participants 3-400. It looks as though the British team will go down again against the master-race. Come on, pull your fingers out. We need all types, translators, dressers, dogs-bodies and especially non speaking actors.

@ BLAKEVINE, there are usually quite a few participants from Correze, I think that they stay over for a few nights.

Le-Dolly wrote:LATEST SCORE: Anglo participants 26, German participants 40+ & French participants 3-400. It looks as though the British team will go down again against the master-race. Come on, pull your fingers out. We need all types, translators, dressers, dogs-bodies and especially non speaking actors.

Surely not in the spirit of what you are trying to achieve to refer to the Germans as "the master race"? The last time they considered themselves thus the British did not go down to them.

Unfortunately not everyone, myself included, is interested in this type of event, no matter how much you try and cajole. Maybe there are just not that many people from the La Souterraine area who frequent this board.

I'm glad that you are so up to date that you get the football reference. Further if you have no interest "in this type of event", why bother reading, or particularly replying?  

We now have a quite reasonable ensemble, but we could still do with a couple more people willing to translate instructions and stage directions to the English speakers. Actors, of any of the three varieties, are also still most welcome to sign up, all roles will be non speaking, so no fear of fluffing your lines. All you have to do is walk around and throw some shapes occasionally. If you wish to help, or know someone who can, please make contact at: britishatbridiers@laposte.net
Break a leg.