Sam Sweeney’s Fiddle: Made in the Great War

Six years ago Sam Sweeney, fiddle player with Bellowhead, bought a violin in Oxford. It had all the appearance of a new instrument but the label inside gave the date 1915 and the name Richard S Howard.

Research revealed that the violin had been made – but never finished – by a luthier and music hall performer, Richard S Howard, who had left for war in 1916 aged 35, leaving his violin unfinished. Richard didn’t make it back from the war and the violin pieces were left to his daughter Rose, who kept them all her life. In 2007 luthier Roger Claridge bought the pieces at auction, finally finishing the violin and placing it in his Oxford music shop window, just as Sam Sweeney happened to be shopping for a fiddle…

The history behind the fiddle inspired Sam to create a multi-media performance telling the incredible story of the fiddle – which took nearly 100 years to complete – marking the 100^th anniversary of the start of World War I. The production comes to Buxton Opera House on Monday 14 September.

Collaborators of the show include award-winning story-teller Hugh Lupton, fellow Bellowhead band mate Paul Sartin and acclaimed concertina player Rob Harbron. Bellowhead lighting designerEmma Thompson developed the set, projections and lighting.

MADE IN THE GREAT WAR brings the reality of World War I into 2014, as Sam performs the show with the very same 100-year-old fiddle.

The show takes place at Pavilion Arts Centre on Monday 14 September at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £17.50 and discounts are available.  To buy tickets or for more information call the Box Office on 01298 72190 or visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk