Made In England

Arts Council England and BBC English Regions are joining forces to put St George’s Day, 23 April, back on the calendar with celebrations up and down the country.

Commuters in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire will be amongst the first to experience the St George’s Day festivities when, on arrival at St Pancras International Station, they are greeted by a 100 strong choir on the concourse singing a new anthem for England, composed and conducted by young English composer Sam Dunkley.

However, these same passengers will already have been transported back to the 1930s during their journey to London. Because in a tribute to Betjeman’s ‘Metroland’, renowned theatre company Hoipolloi will treat them to performances celebrating everything from tea and crumpets to tennis rackets and cakes, as they experience a production called The Full English.

Hoipolloi will start the production at the Milton Keynes Theatre, before boarding a double decker bus to Luton station, where they will catch a specially decorated train to St Pancras, performing all the way! Then, the new anthem for England will provide a spectacular culmination of the event!

Celebrations

Andrew Whyte, Executive Director of Advocacy and Communications for Arts Council England said:

“The anthem for England is the first of many celebrations on 23 April which we hope will get people thinking about what it is to be English. This isn’t about replacing the National Anthem, it’s about echoing the great traditions in poetry and song with which people celebrate St Patrick’s, St David’s and St Andrew’s days.

“We have such a rich and diverse culture in this country that being English means many different things to many different people – and we hope our events illustrate that.

Milton Keynes Theatre

“There maybe no dragons left to conquer” he added, “but we believe St George’s Day can still mark those things that unite us and distinguish us as a nation.”

The Full English is one of around 14 Made in England projects developed with and broadcast on BBC Local Radio stations around the country.

Made in England is a joint project with the Arts Council dedicated to exploring how England – the place and the people - is expressed through creative and artistic forms.

The projects explore what it is about England that inspires creativity, and looks at our customs and identity through the country’s people and their art. It asks the joint questions, how art makes England and England makes art?

It is about people and communities exploring the places where they live and discovering art in all its forms.