Film made in Birdwood House coming to Totnes Cinema
Local film-maker Martin Walker has adapted Joe Richards’ prize-winning story of growing up in the 1950s amid parental neglect and the absurdities of boarding school, to create an absorbing 45 minute film. The film “If Ye Love Me” was shot entirely at Birdwood House, on Totnes High Street, it’s by turns funny and poignant, as an old man (Patrick Cooper) relives the experiences that formed him. The film will be followed by a Q&A with the writer, film-maker and actor.
Several performances were successfully staged at Birdwood House during the Totnes Fringe Festival earlier this year
Writer Joe Richards who is from Sheffield and spent 35 years teaching in the theatre department of Dartington College of Arts, said “The text started life with a short story I wrote that won €1000 from a competition run by Moth Magazine in Eire. The author Sarah Hall was the judge. She wrote in the Irish Times that it was ‘… a striding story with heart-rending moments, humour and wit…’. I am a playwright so my inclination was to rethink the piece as a play. Patrick and I started work but soon Covid descended. We rehearsed on zoom and I soon realised, from watching the screen, that this could be a film. We invited the film maker Martin Walker to look at the text and he agreed to take on the production. ”
Martin Walker, Patrick Richards and Joe Richards will be taking questions after the showing on 18th October at the Totnes Cinema