29 September 2024

I have just uploaded all four parts of The Rough Close Murder radio play to YouTube. I hope you enjoy it.  The cast certainly enjoyed recording it and I had fun adding background sounds and music to it and final polishing - although hindered greatly by the wifi going down on two different occasions, the last being the violent thunderstorm we had last week. when computers went down everywhere around this area, as well as floods, cars stuck in mud and a roof catching fire in Longton.

 

Anyway, if you have any problems accessing it, let me know and, most of all, if you love the story, please tell you friends, family and associates about it - the more the merrier to get those viewing figures up.

So, if  you have difficulties getting onto YouTube, here are the links:

https://youtu.be/pPSomXDcH8E?si=yiecP2oS0tJ98WcC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7kKANDxAz8&list=PL7yz6LdQphG0K41F5odWhQ9UWUFrMY7B7&index=2&pp=gAQBiAQB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ9EZvd0rgs&list=PL7yz6LdQphG0K41F5odWhQ9UWUFrMY7B7&index=3&pp=gAQBiAQB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFRog59I4oM&list=PL7yz6LdQphG0K41F5odWhQ9UWUFrMY7B7&index=4&pp=gAQBiAQB

So, what's next on the horizon you may ask?  Well, not one for letting the grass grow, I've been busy while getting the radio play up and running, contacting theatre groups.  I do have one production company, at present, who has read the stage play script and are interested in producing it. I even have some of the radio play  cast who would like to act in the play plus another to play the psychic medium. However, I wil need to make some drastic changes to the script, taking out bits that might drag and making the exorcisism more dramatic.  So, I'm going to enjoy getting my teeth into that.  Maybe, if Julie reads this, she can pass on some ideas.

 

23 August

Well, it's the big recording day today.  Fingers crossed.  There have already been last minute hitches, but I'm sure it wil all work out in the end. Meredith has had to take to her bed for the last couple of days, not being well enough to attend the last meeting we had  on Tuesday 20 August, but she assures me she wil be there today.  Break a leg everyone!

It's been great fun getting everyone involved.  Kat Inglis has been absolutely marvelous.  She's actually strangled twice during the play, and is sobbing dramatically during a large part.  She's so good that I said I'd have to tape my mouth closed during the recording to stifle any giggles or even tears on my part, or keep pinching myself to keep quiet.  I can see me covered in bruises by the end of the recording.  What with Kat and Mervyn Edwards as the agressive drunken bully of 1886 and the ghost of modern times,  speaking in the old Potteries dialect, this is really going to be an exciting play.

I envisage it being broadcast as a mini series of 4 x 45minute episodes - we'll see after all the sound effects and music have been added.

I still haven't heard from BBC Radio Stoke when our interview will be aired.   I have contacted Stoke Sentinel.

 

8 August

Woopee, I have a singer to sing Danny Boy - the ghostly voice coming through the piano in modern times, but dating from the 1880s.  The ghostly voice is the mother of William and John Daniel.  I am most grateful to Virginia, Ray and Christina.

The singer is Virginia Johnson (picture below); the recording and prduction is by Ray Johnson; the accompaniment is by Christina Pepper.

"C:\Users\maggi\Documents\Audacity\Rough Close\music\DANNY BOY.wav"

So, it's all systems go.  Just another practice on 20th, then the actual recording on 23rd.

Virginia Johnson

7 August

There was news that Julie Angel, the real life psychic medium featured in the book, might in fact be able to come to d o the recording on 23 August.  She so wanted to come and perform and was so looking forward to it,  but personal circumstances have prevented her yet again. She wishes all the best to her understudy, Sherrin Bergqvist, who has valiently stepped in,  and the rest of the cast, and of course, we send our best wishes to Julie.

7 August

Mervyn Edwards, Kat Inglis and I were interviewed by Lee Blakeman at BBC Radio Stoke at 11am - FM: 94.6

Lee was very pleased how it went but I don't know exactly when it will be aired, because of the possible disorder around the country, especially Tunstall, which would take precidence.  I will let you know as soon as I know

2 August 

Just got this:

Morning Margaret, It's Jodie at BBC Radio Stoke. Hope you're well. I've just noticed that read throughs and rehearsals have started for your radio play The Rough Close Murder and I'm wondering if you'd like to come on to the radio to have a chat about it? My email is jodie.looker@bbc.co.uk

 

So, that's great - more more promotion. Hooray 🙌 

We had a great run through of the play on Tuesday 23 July.  Yes, the play is too long and needs some tweaking but "it will be alright on the night", so they say - fingers crossed 🤞. 

The whole cast is brilliant, especially Mervyn, who we had to laugh at, playing William Daniel and his ghost. as he put so much emphasis into his acting, using his gruff old Potteries dialect. He was magnificent. I hope we can refrain from laughing for the actual recording.

Kat was brilliant especially as her parts as Sue/Susan are so large. 

I've just seen in the Daily Mail  Weekend magazine "The 50 best podcasts to listen to this summer". It says that a Spotify account is the gateway to most podcasts and the BBC Sounds app and Amazon's Audible app can be used as well. So, I'm going to try a few. Once I've selected one it seems listeners use it's search facility to find the podcast they're looking for. You will typically be presented with a list of episodes. I may do this play as four half hour episodes.  Listeners can either listen to an episode there and then, by streaming it, or they can download one to listen to whenever they want and without needing an internet connection. If they choose to 'follow' or 'subscribe' to a podcast, new episodes will automatically appear in the app.

 

From Julie Angel, International psychic medium. Posted on Facebook 24 June 2923

"So, this captivating book is based on a true 'crime' in 1886 in a peaceful part of Staffordshire, U.K.

How much can people take before breaking (and in what in criminal law could be called murder - or on closer examination manslaughter?  

Margaret Moxom a true crime investigator, accomplished author and historical researcher contacted me to question whether a person could be possessed after 'accidental' electrocution. Well of course, a spirit will orchestrate all manner of things to get attention and possibly cross to the light as they battle their way between this world and the next. ..

Furniture moves, music is heard, children playing when "no-one is there' never mind a change in 'modern days' Dave's personality all point to the need for an exorcism. Can it be achieved and if so, how? Buy her book featuring your local Psychic Medium Julie Angel as the Exorcist