The Life and Letters of Private Sidney Robert Verrier (1923-1997) in Music, Memories and Spoken Word, by Mick Verrier
Sid is Mick Verrier’s ground-breaking live audio-visual ballad-cycle, inspired by over one hundred and fifty letters written by his Uncle, a veteran of D-Day (1944), the Ardennes campaign (1945), the Rhine Crossing (1945) and Palestine (1945-6). Building upon the Radio Ballad model created by Ewan MacColl, Charles Parker and Peggy Seeger, Mick weaves a rich tapestry of original ballads and spoken word alongside the memories of those who shared Sid’s experiences, set against a backdrop of vivid imagery, including Sid’s letters, telling the story of Sid’s five years in the army and the heart-rending aftermath: fifty years in mental institutions. The ballad-cycle is part of Mick’s wider PhD research project at the University of Essex, Sid: The Life and Letters of Private Sidney Robert Verrier.
All proceeds from this performance at The Electric Palace will go to the Electric Palace Trust.