On 18 October 2016, as part of the Arts & Humanities Festival of Play, the ‘Cultural Exchange in a Time of Global Conflict: Colonials, Neutrals and Belligerents during the First World War’ (CEGC) Project and Associated Partner Stichting de Jazz van het Bankroet is screening the UK version of the film The Timbertown Follies.
Venue: JKTL Nash Lecture Theatre, King's Building, Strand Campus, Kings College London
http://www.cegcproject.eu/events/event/the-timbertown-follies-film-screening/
Following the siege of Antwerp in 1914, almost 1,500 troops from the 1st British Naval Brigade found themselves seeking safety in the neutral zone of the Netherlands. Arriving in Groningen, the men were eventually interned in a custombuilt barracks camp that they called Timbertown. To pass the time, the troops undertook a variety of activities, with one set of men forming a cabaret group in music hall style, a genre increasingly popular in the UK. Known as the Timbertown Follies, these men performed more than 300 shows during the war years throughout the Netherlands. The ease with which they performed songs, their perfect comic timing, their affable nature, and always accompanied by an actor in the part of the ‘Lady’ endeared them to audiences, despite the language barrier. The Timbertown Follies were a roaring success.
This documentary reveals the stories of some of the members of the Timbertown Follies, exploring their lives and their emotions. We hear how they made connections with Dutch families, with these bonds lasting a lifetime and even beyond, spanning generations. The film interrogates this fascinating moment in history by looking at the influence that these interned soldiers had on Groningen society, by examining how members of the Follies reflected on this period after the war.
Following the screening, there will be a Q&A session with the director, Leo van Maaren, and filmmaker, Frank Herrebout.
