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Grit of Life

“The Widgeon Theatre Boat returns bringing the ‘GRIT OF LIFE’ to an out of reach audience”

A story 84 years in the making


The Widgeon weaves a journey through the canal system part social history, part personal narrative,
a reflection of past and present.

Now the infamous 84 year old Widgeon Theatre Boat is back on the waterways and touring a brand new production of the
‘Grit of Life’
An Under Milk Wood for the waterways with songs by

Rory McLeod

Rory McLeod is a singer, songwriter, storyteller, harmonica virtuoso and traveller with music.

He has a natural troubadour's talent for weaving magical, musical and storytelling spells accompanied by his own bizarre solo orchestra of distinctive instruments including :

Spoons, finger-cymbals, bandorea, djembe drum, harmonica, guitar, trombone and tap-dancing shoes! 

Written and Directed by

John Knowles

John Knowles is a writer, director, actor and producer, based in Hastings East Sussex. His
work is uncompromising, vital and full of
sharp wit and pathos.  


Fetch Theatre produces work which explores the personal, the provocative and the absurd and is independent to it's core.

He was recently the winner of the Ironclad New Creative Writing 2021 Award at the Brighton Fringe 2021 for his Fiction Romance production.

Produced by Widgeon’s own MJ Morgan.

the musical celebrates an emerging cast

In ALPHABETICAL ORDER


Maisy Beth Crunden
Maisy is an actor-musician who graduated in 2020 from East 15 Acting School, having also studied at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts. Maisy’s recent credits include 'Haymarket! The Musical' (Covent Garden), ‘On Hope; A Digital Song Cycle’ (The Other Palace) and ‘Global Enhancers’ (The Tramshed, Digitally Charged Festival)She has recently released her debut EP ‘In the Waves’, which creates a 'beautifully organic and natural folkloric world’ for listeners. She is passionate about the integration of music within theatre, and works as a composer/ musical director for various projects when she is not performing. Aside from this, Maisy is also an internationally award winning and published playwright, primarily writing for Youth Ensembles.
Kristin Duffy
Kristin Duffy is an actor/muso, founder of Slackline Productions and podcaster at The Second Chapter podcast. She has performed with the female/non-binary Shakespeare company :The Sirrah Sisters (Lady Capulet, Romeo & Juliet; Oberon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Antonio, Twelfth Night), The Show Must Go Online (Ensemble, The Winter’s Tale) and with Slackline in The Werewolf of Washington Heights (Izzy Tressider).Kristin has also worked on several films and particularly enjoys comedy roles. She started learning to play the violin at age two, using a butter box with a ruler attached, before being trusted with a real violin when she was three.
Hannah Harris
Hannah trained in classical acting at the Drama Centre London and Boris Shchukin Academy in Moscow. Theatre includes: Nazanin’s Story, The Nutcracker, John Gabriel Borkman, The Snow Queen, 1984 and The Jungle Book.Film/TV includes: A Crown Fit For A Prince, Today, Wokewood and Shakescene Shakespeare Voice work includes: Adriane’s Story, Playing Woodstock and Leopard’s Stories. Hannah is overjoyed that live performance is back on and so happy to be able to tread the Widgeon’s boards this summer!
Patrick McHugh
Patrick graduated from Fourth Monkey’s Two Year Rep in 2016. Recent credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Festival Players International), Henry VI pt 2 and Richard III (The Show Must Go Online)Macbeth (Action To The World), Dracula and Frankenstein (TRUESTORY), Darwin’s Tortoise and Taxi Girl (Spanish Theatre Company).

MAISY BETH CRUNDEN

Maisy is an actor-musician who graduated in 2020 from East 15 Acting School, having also studied at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts.

Maisy’s recent credits include 'Haymarket! The Musical' (Covent Garden). ‘On Hope; A Digital Song Cycle’ (The Other Palace) and ‘Global Enhancers’ (The Tramshed, Digitally Charged Festival)

She has recently released her debut EP ‘In the Waves’, which creates a 'beautifully organic and natural folkloric world’ for listeners.

She is passionate about the integration of music within theatre, and works as a composer/ musical director for various projects when she is not performing.

Aside from this, Maisy is also an internationally award winning and published playwright, primarily writing for Youth Ensembles.

Kristin Duffy

Kristin Duffy is an actor/muso, founder of Slackline Productions and podcaster at The Second Chapter podcast. She has performed with the female/non-binary Shakespeare company :

The Sirrah Sisters (Lady Capulet, Romeo & Juliet; Oberon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Antonio, Twelfth Night), The Show Must Go Online (Ensemble, The Winter’s Tale) and with Slackline in The Werewolf of Washington Heights (Izzy Tressider).

Kristin has also worked on several films and particularly enjoys comedy roles.

She started learning to play the violin at age two, using a butter box with a ruler attached, before being trusted with a real violin
when she was three.

Hannah Harris

Hannah trained in classical acting at the Drama Centre London and Boris Shchukin Academy in Moscow.

Theatre includes:

Nazanin’s Story, The Nutcracker, John Gabriel Borkman, The Snow Queen, 1984 and The Jungle Book.

Film/TV includes:

A Crown Fit For A Prince, Today, Wokewood and Shakescene Shakespeare

Voice work includes:

Adriane’s Story, Playing Woodstock and Leopard’s Stories.

Hannah is overjoyed that live performance is back on and so happy to be able to tread the Widgeon’s boards this summer!

Patrick McHugh

Patrick graduated from Fourth Monkey’s Two Year Rep in 2016. Recent credits include


Much Ado About Nothing
(Festival Players International)

Henry VI pt 2 and Richard III
(The Show Must Go Online)

Macbeth
(Action To The World)

Dracula and Frankenstein
(TRUESTORY),

Darwin’s Tortoise and Taxi Girl
(Spanish Theatre Company).

GRIT OF LIFE 

2021 TOUr DATES

Tickets can also be purchased in person at all the events by card or cash

Angel Canal Festival
Angel
Sept 5th
FREE EVENT COME ALONG!
Totally Thames
Mile End London
Sept 10th,11th,12th
Get Tickets / Donate
Totally Thames
Three Mill London
Sept 18th, 19th
Get Tickets