Company Name: Mikron Theatre Company
Founders: Mike Lucas, Sarah Cameron, Ron Legge
Current status: Still in operation – Mikron Theatre Company
Established: 1963
Reason: To take theatre to unusual venues and new audiences outside London
Area of work: Community & Street. Mikron Theatre originally sought to produce drama documentaries about the history of the canals, adaptations of one-act Harold Pinter plays, revues and adaptations of Shakespeare plays. In 1974 they refocused their efforts to concentrate on the marginalised history of the British canal systems.
Policy: Mikron’s commitment to the preservation and visibility of the history of the canals, amongst other marginalised histories, was fundamental to the work they produced in the 70s and 80s – and still is today. In 1972 Mikron established a unique method of ensuring that remote communities situated alongside the British canal systems were able to access their work, touring by narrowboat to remote pub venues. Though Mikron never pushed a formal company policy or manifesto pertaining to their vision for society or political affiliation, their ethos, to produce theatre that is entertaining, accessible and of a political/historical nature, was (and still is) fundamental to their work. Mikron employed the use of original songwriting, live music and original storytelling to facilitate a shared of knowledge of the history and development of the canals, the individuals and communities they had been apart of, and to offer an affordable form of entertainment that resisted the exclusivity of bourgeois theatre.
Structure: Artistic Director-led, Administrator, Producer and Fundraiser; the latter role was developed in 1984. Actors were employed for the length of a tour, though this was not fixed and they could stay on, and were paid Equity minimum.They registered as a charity in 1973.
Based: London, 1963-1978. Marsden, West Yorkshire, 1978-present.
Funding:
1973-1975: received donations from well-wishers, including Lord Montagu who is now a patron of Mikron, and some small grants from regional arts associations
1975-1984: received an annual grant from the Arts Council, and continued to receive support from Kirklees Council after their Arts Council grant was suspended in 1984
1984-1985: received grants from West Yorkshire County Council and raised some funds through public appeals
1986-present day: have received sponsorship from local and national businesses, local authorities and regional arts councils, and they established a ‘Friends of Mikron’ donation scheme and continue to benefit from patronage
Performance venues: In 1963 Mikron’s first production The Bubonic Plague Show, a satire about the danger of germ warfare, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival after performing at John Arden and Margaret De Arcy’s arts festival in Kirbymoorside. From their first lunchtime shows at the Kings Head, a newly opened pub theatre in Islington, a festival in Little Venice, National Waterways Rallies, to school venues in Hemel Hempstead Mikron have performed in non-traditional venues. In their early tours they booked village halls in remote areas, working on the assumption that these venues would be at the heart of the community and well placed to attract new audiences, they soon realised that the real heart of the community was the village pub. As a result, in 1973 Mikron made it their policy to book canal and riverside pubs as their main venues. They toured nationally in a variety of alternative venues throughout their time including pubs, village halls, festivals, houses, grass verges and tunnels situated alongside the British waterways, and later, internationally in Belgium and France. In pub venues they performed in close proximity to the audience with no off-stage area. In outdoor venues they performed on grass verges, marquees and in 1986 they even performed The British Amazon and Just the Job on the decks of the péniche Peterborough in Belgium. They transported set, costumes and cast by narrowboat – and when weather did not permit this they traveled via van or car. They never cancelled a performance even in extreme weather conditions or times of personal injury or loss.
Audiences: From their inception Mikron has attracted a loyal regional audience during their annual tours. Their audiences have varied from ex-boating people to lower and middle class people living in remote communities, through to school children and people interested in cultural heritage. In taking theatre to new audiences outside London, Mikron has entertained generations of families and communities throughout Yorkshire and beyond.
More images can be found on Mike Lucas’ web page.
Company work and process:
Between 1972-1986, Mikron’s creative process was spearheaded by Mike Lucas, involving a period of original research followed by editing of the material for inclusion in the scripts. This process would often be completed within 2-4 weeks. The methodology for the research phase was steered by the availability of relevant resources and/or people. For example: material for I’d Go Back Tomorrow was largely informed by the lives of ex-boatmen and women whom Mike and Sarah Lucas had befriended during their time touring the waterways; Mud in Your Eye was informed by the experiences of the Waterways Recovery Group; Puddle It was largely informed by Anthony Burton’s 1972 historical account of the fight to build canals in Britain, The Canal Builders. Original songwriting played a large role in the work too, though occasionally devised by participants of the research period as with the song I am a boating man written by ex-boatman John Saxon for I’d Go Back Tomorrow, they were typically written by Mike (or other company members) until Jim Woodland began writing songs with Mikron in 1988.
The nature of the venues, often pub’s and canal side grass verges, and their mode of transport naturally informed the construction of minimalistic sets and small casts playing multiple roles. The set was comprised of a 6ft x 8ft screen for actors to change behind, though they would often change onstage. Thus space, or the lack thereof, would demand a disciplined approach from actors with respect to stage direction and intimate interactions with the audience. The transport and storage of the set, props and musical instruments had to be carefully coordinated; everything had a particular place on the narrowboat – also home to the company during tours.
Shows were often directed by Mike, who also performed, until 1986 when he took over the administration of the company in addition to his Artistic Director role. Prior to 1986 Sarah Lucas coordinated the administration of the company, organising bookings and press appearances with little more than a wooden stool and cigarette for company in her office, and a nearby phone booth in the early days. Sarah played an important role in building relationships with venues. She was also vital in the day-to-day running of the company, including the payment of staff wages – often at the expense of receiving her own wage.
In bringing to the fore the marginalised history of the canals, the impact of progress in transport on the communities of Yorkshire, they have supported the work of the Waterway Recovery Group, the National Waterways Rally and the Inland Waterways Association. Mikron survived the deterioration of the canals in the 1970s, brutal Arts Council funding cuts in the 1980s and the challenges of touring via narrowboat with cast, crew and family on board. Since their move to Marsden in 1978 they have curated local exhibitions, supported the development of activities at the Marsden Mechanics community hall, established the Mikron Youth & Community Theatre and Marsden Jazz Festival – amongst other community projects. In 2011 it was estimated that Mikron had written 49 original shows, composed and written 294 original songs, supported over 210 actor/musician contracts, performed over 4,250 times to 300,000 people, and spent 22,000 hours boating on the inland waterways.
Personal appraisal & thoughts:
For audio extracts from Mike Lucas reflecting on his time with Mikron click here.
Reviews:
In the early days Mikron enjoyed publicity from the Daily Telegraph, London Weekend’s arts programme Aquarius, three feature length documentaries including Narrowboat in Still Waters (1973) and Still Carrying On (1983), a piece for the BBC’s popular programme Blue Peter (1975), Omnibus, the Today Programme and PM at 5pm – amongst others. Most of the reviews quoted below can be found in Mike Lucas’ book I’d Go Back Tomorrow and reviews for their most recent productions can be found online here.
Still
‘A group of attractive young people have put together Still Waters…it is a cheerful somewhat hobbledehoy piece of work but it chronicles interestingly enough the story of the canal boom in 18th century and the inevitable decline as railways took over.’ (Daily Telegraph, 1972)
Keep Yer ‘ands Off
‘Some segments of the production were positively brilliant’. On the release of their third album in 1981, Waterways World described it as: ‘… a fine recording of a memorable and frequently moving show, one of Mikron’s best… Musical accompaniment throughout is by the ever versatile members of of the company performing on guitars, banjos, harmonica, mandolin and even a penny whistle and spoons.’ (Banbury Guardian, 1974)
From Where I Stand
‘…touching, comical and magical.’ (The Halifax Courier, 1983)
With their Arts Council grant about to be cut at the end of 1984 reviews and support for Mikron came thick and fast, further reviews on this theme can be found here: Mikron reviews continued.
Productions:
| PRODUCTION NAME | VENUES | DATES |
|---|---|---|
| The Bubonic Plague Show Writer: Charles Lewsen Directors: Ron Legge and Mike Lucas Cast: Mike Lucas, Ron Legge, Jonathan Holt, Roger Kendell, Sarah Cameron and others | Edinburgh Festival Arts Festival, Kirbymoorside | 1963 |
| Sitting Pretty Writer: Tim Dartington Director: Danny Schiller Cast: Amanda Murray Stage Manager: Anne Wells | King's Head, Islington | 1972 |
| Still Waters Writers: Mike Lucas, Danny Schiller Director: Mike Lucas Cast (1972): Danny Schiller, Peter Deman, Roger Oakley, Anne Engel, Karena Mond, Corinthia West, Mike Lucas Stage Manager (1972): Anne Wells Cast (1973): Brian J Carter, Stephen Churchill, Antony Heaton, Leonora Keogh, David Shackleton, Stephen Whittaker, Mike Lucas Cast (1974): Anna Bentinck, Alan Bridger, Richard Robinson, Mike Lucas | King's Head, Islington Camden Lock Arts Festival, Little Venice National Waterways Rally, Lymm Grand Union Canal Tour Various along the River Nene Abbey Park, Leicester Northampton Water Festival Hillingdon Environmental Action Party | 1972/73/74 |
| Keep Yer 'ands Off Writers: Mike Lucas, Anna Bentinck, Alan Bridger, Richard Robinson Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Anna Bentinck, Alan Bridger, Richard Robinson, Mike Lucas | Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tour Navigation, Greensforge Langley Mill George & Dragon, Fenny Compton Opposite Lock, Birmingham Bridge Inn, Branston National Waterways Rally Wolvercote Green, Oxford Canal | 1974/75/82 |
| Up The Cut Writers: Mike Lucas, Alan Bridger, Dan Caulfield, Thirzie Robinson Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Alan Bridger, Dan Caulfield, Thirzie Robinson, Mike Lucas | The Admiral Nelson Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tour Grand Union Canal Tour Boat at Catherine De Barnes, Catley Canal Museum, Stoke Bruene Old Road Inn, Bootle Navigation, Gathurst The Ship, Haskayne Abbey Park, Leicester National Waterways Rally | 1975/76 |
| Puddle It Writers: Writers: Mike Lucas, David Brett, Mark Steeves, Ruth Tansey Director: Mike Lucas Cast: David Brett, Mark Steeves, Ruth Tansey, Mike Lucas | White Lion, Marsworth Grand Union Canal Tour Boat Museum, Manchester Ship Canal Marple Lock White Gates, Hyde Cruising Club, Lymm Wise Alderman, Kidlington Caldon Canal Tour Black Lion, Consall Forge National Waterways Rally, Peterborough Various along the River Nene Fazeley to Oxford Tour Thames & Southern Grand Union Tour Malton, River Derwent Bedford Arms, Linsdale | 1976/77 |
| I'd Go Back Tomorrow Writers: Mike Lucas, Buffy Davis, Derek Harman, Matthew Marsh Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Buffy Davis, Derek Harman, Matthew Marsh, Mike Lucas | Chesterfield Canal Bicentenary Rally Caldon Canal Tour National Waterways Rally, Reading Royal Oak, Bollington Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tour Canal Festival, Huddersfield Dudley Tunnel White Lion, Marsworth South Oxford Canal Tour National Waterways Rally, Leeds Wild Hollow, Gonsall | 1977/78/81 |
| What a Way to Go Writers: Mike Lucas, Jo Fitzgerald, Carmen Lynn, Hilary Rikof Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Jo Fitzgerald, Carmen Lynn, Hilary Rikof, Mike Lucas | Grand Union Canal Tour South Oxford Canal Tour RAF Base, Upper Heyford National Waterways Rally Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tour Newark | 1978/79 |
| Where's Our Cut? Writers: Mike Lucas, Sandra Moore, Carol Prior, Chris Whittingham Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Sandra Moore, Carol Prior, Chris Whittingham, Mike Lucas | Wolvercote Green, Oxford Canal South Oxford Canal Tour Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tour Sheffield Basin Tour Grand Union Canal Tour Scottish Inland Waterways Rally Dudley Tunnel National Waterways Rally Tunnel End, Marsden | 1979/80 |
| Mud in Your Eye Writers: Mike Lucas, Julie Brennon, Mark Strickson, Sarah Wilson Director: Mike Lucas Cast (1980): Julie Brennon, Mark Strickson, Sarah Wilson, Mike Lucas Cast (1981): Thea Bennett, Mark Strickson, Sarah Wilson, Mike Lucas | Railway, Marsden Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tour Macclesfield Canal Tour Trent & Mersey Canal Tour Grand Union Canal Tour Camp House Inn, Grimley Wolvercote Green, Oxford Canal Goalming Water Festival National Waterways Festival South Pennines Tour | 1980/81 |
| Over the Top Writers: Mike Lucas, Robert Edmunds, Eluned Owen, Sarah Wilson Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Robert Edmunds, Eluned Owen, Sarah Wilson, Mike Lucas | Chesterfield Canal Tour Packet Inn, Chesterfield Boat Inn, Hayton South Oxford Canal Tour Boat, Thrupp Swan, Fradley Junction South Pennines Tour | 1982/83 |
| Still Carrying Writers: Mike Lucas, Kate Duchene, Sarah Parks, Mark Williams Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Kate Duchene, Sarah Parks, Mark Williams, Mike Lucas | Peak Forest Canal Tour New Inn, Buckby Wharf Grand Union Canal Tour Tywning Inn Camp House Inn, Grimley Black Star, Stourport Staffs & Wors Canal Tour National Waterways Rally, Wigan Pier South Pennines Tour Railway, Marsden | 1983/84/96 |
| From Where I Stand Writers: Mike Lucas, Kate Duchene, Sarah Parks, Mark Williams Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Kate Duchene, Sarah Parks, Mark Williams | South Pennines Tour | 1983/84 |
| Manchester-Super-Mare Writers: Mike Lucas, Sue Dyde, Caron Pascoe, Mark Williams Director: Mike Lucas Cast: Sue Dyde, Caron Pascoe, Mark Williams, Mike Lucas | Railway, Marsden Railway, Appley Bridge Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tour Grand Union Canal Tour South Pennines Tour Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi, Belgium Canal du Centre, Belgium | 1984/85/94/95 |
| Just The Job Writers: Mike Lucas, Mark Williams Director: Mark Williams Cast: Loulse Waddington, Mark Williams, Mike Lucas Musical Director: Jane Griffith | South Pennines Tour Railway Hotel, Congleton Hampton Court Thames & Southern Grand Union Tour Waterways Tour | 1985/86/97 |
| The British Amazon Writers: Mike Lucas, Mark Williams Director: Mike Lucas Cast (1985): Loulse Waddington, Mark Williams, Mike Lucas Cast (1986): Cliff Barry, Stephen Holmes, Loulse Waddington Musical Director: Jane Griffith | South Pennines Tour Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tour Thames & Southern Grand Union Tour Waterways Tour Kent & Avon Canal Tour River Avon Tour Camden Lock Belgium Tour Peterborough Italian Canteen Brussels Docks | 1985/86/87 |
| Speed Your Shuttle (and change your tune) Writers: Mike Lucas, Mark Williams Director: Mike Lucas Cast (1986): Cliff Barry, Stephen Holmes, Loulse Waddington Musical Director: Jane Griffith Cast (1987): Amanda Edwards, John Elkington, Clive Lucas, Sarah Parks | South Pennines Tour Caldon Canal Tour Trent & Mersey Canal Tour Staffs & Worcs Canal Tour Norfolk Broads Tour Dog Inn, Ludham Bridge Ferry Boat, Stokesby Norwich Tour Holly Bush, Acton Green Bird in Hand, Kent Green Bridge, Audlem Anchor, Shropshire Berkley Hunt Bridge, Branston | 1986/87/88 |
| Flight of Fancy Writers: Mike Lucas, Sarah Parks Director: Mike Lucas Cast (1987): Amanda Edwards, John Elkington, Clive Lucas, Sarah Parks Cast (1988):Katherine Dow-Blyton, John Elkington, Clive Lucas, Billie Reynolds | South Pennines Tour Caldon Canal Tour Trent & Mersey Canal Tour Staffs & Worcs Canal Tour Norfolk Broads Tour Dog Inn, Ludham Bridge Ferry Boat, Stokesby Norwich Tour Belgium Tour | 1987/1988 |
| Rise and Fall Writer: Mike Lucas Director: Mike Lucas Songwriter: Jim Woodland Cast (1988):Katherine Dow-Blyton, John Elkington, Clive Lucas, Billie Reynolds Cast (1989): Gillian Baskeyfield, Juliet Heacock, Clive Lucas, John Spooner | Peterborough Belgium Tour France Tour Railway, Marsden Stanley Arms, Trent & Mersey Canal Canal Museum, Nottingham Camden Lock Bounty at Borne End Eight Locks, Ryders Green National Waterways Festival, Manchester | 1988/89 |
| A Place to Stand Writers: Mike Lucas, Sarah Parks Director: Mike Lucas Musical Directors: Jim Woodland, John Spooner, Peadar Long Cast (1989): Gillian Baskeyfield, Juliet Heacock, Clive Lucas, John Spooner Cast (1990): Gillian Baskeyfield, Jacky Hynes, Jon Keats, John Spooner | 1989/90 | |
| Free For All | 1990/91 | |
| Spirit Of The Age | 1991/92 | |
| Imogen's War | 1992/93/98 | |
| The Threads Of Revolution | 1993/94 | |
| Another '45 Writer: Rodney Matthew Director: Rodney Matthew | 1993 | |
| The Lyon Mourns Writer: Rodney Matthew Director: Rodney Matthew | 1994 | |
| Beer Street | 1994/95 2000/11 |
|
| A Woman's Place | 1995/96 2003 |
|
| If You Go Down to the Woods ... tales from the Newbury by-pass | 1997/98 | |
| Just In Time | 1999 | |
| Dont Start From Here | 2000/01 | |
| Warehouse Hill | 2001/02 | |
| All Steamed Up | 2002/03 | |
| Our Victor Writer: Rodney Matthew Director: Rodney Matthew | 2002/03 | |
| On the line | 2004 |
|
| Pedal Power | 2004 2010 |
|
| Village Voices | 2005 | |
| Wheel Of Fortune | 2005 | |
| Carrying On | 2006 | |
| Mrs Brunel | 2006 | |
| Married To The Job | 2007 | |
| The Lacemakers | 2007 | |
| Debtonation | 2008 | |
| Fair Trade | 2008/09 | |
| Tales Of The Thames | 2009 | |
| Striking The Balance | 2010 | |
| Hell and High Water | 2011 | |
| Can You Keep a Secret? | 2012 | |
| Losing the Plot | 2012 | |
| Beyond the Veil | 2013 | |
| Don't Shoot The Messenger! | 2013 |
Additional information about Mikron’s productions between 1972 and 2016 can be found: Mikron Theatre 1972-2016
Interviewee reference: Mike Lucas and Anne Engel
Links: Mikron Theatre Company Website, Facebook, Twitter. I’d Go Back Tomorrow by Mike Lucas.
It’s The Narrow Boat Show (HTV,1977)
The Mikron Archive is now placed at Archive Centre, Heritage Quay, Huddersfield University
Existing archive material: Mike Lucas is currently investigating suitable venues to house his extensive archive material some of which is accessible via Mikron Archive Material. Please put requests for viewing original archive material in writing via post to: Mikron Theatre Company, Marsden Mechanics, Peel Street, Marsden, Huddersfield, HD7 6BW, or email admin@mikron.org.uk
Bibliography:
I’d Go Back Tomorrow by Mike Lucas (Staffordshire: Waygoose 2001)
Acknowledgements: This webpage was constructed by Emma Jackson (Unfinished Histories) with the help of Dr Jo Stanley (Oral Historian and principal interviewer for the Mike Lucas interview), Mike Lucas (Mikron Theatre Company founder 1963-2011), Alistair Macdonald (Film Director for Mike Lucas interview and associate of Mikron Theatre Company), Marianne McNamara (Mikron Theatre Company Artistic Director 2003-present). November 2013
The creation of this page by was supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.