Local writer, and actor, Ray Castleton is backing Chesterfield College’s Creativity Pays campaign ahead of being one the first to perform live on stage as theatres reopen after lockdown. His one-man show, ‘Without Malice or Ill Will’, can be seen at The Crucible on 25 May as part of Sheffield Theatres’ ‘The Together Season Festival’ which features thirteen works from local artists.
The play is about a retired police officer called Geoff Marsh. It is the story of how he became a miner at the age of sixteen, a lover, a husband and then a father. In the play, we hear of the decision that altered his career and of the momentous year that changed his life, his family and his community forever.
Highlighting the impact of the creative industries
As a tenant at the college’s creative business hub, West Studios, Ray is keen to support the campaign. He particularly wanted to highlight the positive impact creative industries can have on people’s lives.
His creative career didn’t start until most people are considering retirement. He sold his carpet shop at the age of 60 to go to study theatre and performing arts at university. Consequently, he knows the value of creative education to help realise creative potential.
Much of Ray’s work is about making local history come to life. Therefore, he believes that local creatives can play a big role in bringing communities together.
Supporting local creativity
Talking about why he wanted to back the Creativity Pays campaign and how we can support local creative industries, he said:
“It is really exciting to be part of the reopening of local theatres. There is nothing like live theatre to bring local history to life in a way people can relate to. I think people have realised the value of local in the pandemic so it is brilliant to be telling the story of a point in history which changed our local area, through the eyes of a local man, to a local audience.”
“It is so important to buy into creativity in your area and spend your money supporting local creative businesses. During the pandemic we have spent a lot of time being entertained and informed by what we see on television. What we often forget is that the people making these programmes probably started their careers studying or working in a place like Chesterfield College or West Studios. That spark of creativity is often developed in an educational environment. They are fantastic places to spark creativity, and that spreads out into the community.”
You can find out more about and book tickets to see Ray perform at the Crucible here.