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The Godmother

In December 2021, youngsters from the StageScreen film and drama school, premiered 'The Godmother'. This play, written by Elaine Pritchard, was based on Burton woman Lily Thomas. When World War One broke out, Lily was a widow with a young daughter living in Stapenhill. She resolved to help five Burton men who were taken prisoner by the Germans, after hearing from their families that they were starving. She initially sent money orders and later food parcels. By the end of the war she had sent more than 25,000 parcels of food, clothes and medicines out to more than 500 local men.

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There were two performances of the play, featuring music hall songs of the time, at The Trinity on George Street, a former methodist church where Lily had attended a service of thanksgiving after some of her 'godsons', as she called the Burton men she helped, had safely returned home. 

An image from the production of The Godmother, performed in Burton upon Trent.
A young performer plays music hall star Vesta Tilley in The Godmother play performed in Burton upon Trent
Two of the young stars of The Godmother play performed in Burton upon Trent
A young actor from StageScreen drama school performing The Godmother at The Trinity, Burton upon Trent
The act one finale of The Godmother performed at The Trinity, Burton upon Trent
Two actors from StageScreen drama school in the performance of The Godmother at The Trinity, Burton upon Trent
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