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A play about the life of Mary Frost
The people of Newport will be educated and informed about an important part of local history and heritage, giving them a sense of ownership and pride. We use entertaining and accessible theatrical performance to make this a memorable experience.
We warmly invite young people, students and learners to watch the play and learn about their Newport Chartist heritage.
Our team would include Newport-born and based actors, writer and directors and other South Wales-based creatives. We would hire Newport venue/s to support the Newport economy.
The theatre experience will be fully accessible to all
Mary Frost was a woman at the centre of the 1839 Newport Rising. A former Mayoress and wife of John Frost, citizens and shop owners in Newport. However, Mary, as a 19th century lady, was obliged to stay in the background, her life hidden and largely undocumented. This play aims to shed light on the life of a significant woman in the history of Newport and share this story with the people of the city as well as touring this important story across Wales and beyond in the future.
Initially, 3 performances audience capacity + Newport Rising
| Resource | Description | Quantity needed | When needed | How this donation supports the project (Enabling Actions or KPIs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONEY | To diligently research the lives of Mary & John Frost, the Chartist movement & life in Newport at that time | 10 days - £1330 | 18/07/2025 | Ensure historical accuracy and all aspects of Mary Frost's life arethoroughly explored prior to writing the script |
| MONEY | Produce the final script | 40 days - £5320 | 12/09/2025 | Fee for writing & editing an engaging & entertaining script, including collaboration with historical specialist. |
| MONEY | Fee for 3 actors and Directors (inc rehearsal) | 25 days per person rehearsal inc technical rehearsals 3 Newport based performances £12,000 | 30/11/2025 | Professional fees for actors & director to rehearse and perform in Newport on 3 occasions |
| MONEY | Fee for set design and construction, costume design & supply and theatrical props. | £5000 | 15/10/2025 | Fees for creatives to produce a historically representative & visually stimulating set and costumes. |
| MONEY | Fee for a professional composer and performer to write & record original piano music to be included in the play | £2000 | 30/09/2025 | To include original music that enhances the themes of the play and adds to the audience experience |
| MONEY | Fee for lighting & sound design & technician | £1200 | 30/09/2025 | To provide a sound and lighting schematic to enhance the overall sound and visual performance |
| MONEY | Hire of Newport theatre(s) for 3 performances | £2100 | 30/11/2025 | To fund the hiring of local theatre venue(s) |
| MONEY | Publicity, marketing, social media, press releases, website and print costs | £1000 | Flexible | Ongoing throughout project to ensure maximum reach and impact. |
Sharing draft script for critical feedback Peer review during rehearsals Audience feedback
Supporting script development and promotion of the play