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The Peel Players were an amateur theatre group from the Isle of Man in operation during the 1910s and specialising in Anglo-Manx dialect productions. Through the initiation of Sophia Morrison,〔Mona Douglas, 'Story of a Militant Manxwoman: Sophia Morrison was a Champion of Manx Culture' (1964), in ''("Restoring to Use Our Almost-Forgotten Dances": The Collection and Revival of Manx Folk Song and Dance )'' by Mona Douglas, ed. Stephen Miller, Onchan: Chiollagh Books, 2004, pp. 61 - 65〕 the group met for the first time in July 1912 at Christian Street School, Peel.〔'Drama' in ''A Bibliographical Account of Works Relating to the Isle of Man: Volume II'', compiled and edited by William Cubbon, London: Oxford University Press, 1939, pp. 1005 - 1030〕 They commenced playing in 1913 with Christopher R. Shimmin as producer. On 13 January 1913 the Players premiered Shimmin's short Manx dialect play, ''Illiam Kodhere's Will'', in the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas.〔(Original cast list ), in ''Illiam Kodhere's Will'' by Christopher R. Shimmin, Peel, Isle of Man: Yn Cheshaght Gailckagh, 1913〕 The Players then took their production of this and another of Shimmin's plays, ''The Charm'', to the David Lewis' Theatre in Liverpool. It was reported of this performance (by Sophia Morrison) that "There was a crowded house. The Liverpool newspapers gave unstinted praise to both plays and players."〔('Notes' ) by Sophia Morrison in ''Mannin'', No. 2, November 1913〕 In the winter of that same year, the Players did a production of Shimmin's next play, ''Luss ny Graih''.〔('Creaing a Manx Drama' ) by Sophia Morrison in ''Mannin'', No. 2, November 1913〕 The Players were keen to use the profits from their performances for charitable purposes in line with their Manx ideals. This included a donation of £52 in 1913 to The Manx Society, for "the publication of Manx books and music, music prizes, and so forth,"〔('Notes' ) by Sophia Morrison in ''Mannin'', No. 5, May 1915〕 at a time when the Society was in desperate need of money,〔('Manx Society, Annual Meeting: President’s Address' ), ''The Manx Quarterly'', No. 13, Vol. II〕 and a donation in 1915 to help fund the provision of copies of T. E. Brown's poems for all schools on the island.〔('T. E. Brown Memorial' ) in ''Mannin'', No. 2, May 1915〕 When World War I broke out, ''Mannin'' reported that: "The Peel Players' revenue had been devoted to war objects, so that their work had been somewhat curtailed for lack of funds."〔('Notes' ) by Sophia Morrison in ''Mannin'', No. 6, November 1916〕 This continued for the following year, when ''Mannin'' reported that the Players:〔
It was only two years after this, in January 1917, that Sophia Morrison, the inspiration behind the Players, died. The central connection between Morrison and the Players was demonstrated by some of their members forming her pallbearers: John J. Joughin, Christopher R. Shimmin, C. Cashin and C. H. Cowley.〔('Obituary: Miss Sophia Morrison' ), ''The Manx Quarterly'', No. 18, Vol. IV〕 The Peel Players did not last long beyond this time. People who acted with the Peel Players include: Christopher R. Shimmin, William B. Meyrick, John J. Joughin, Evelyn Christian, Amy Preston, C. Cashin, C. H. Cowley, W. H. Crellin, John W. Kelly, Hilda Vick, Amelia Keegan, Lionel Lucas, Charles W. Palmer, Tom Dodd, Sam Harrison and Annie V. Cain.〔 Although the Peel Players were only a small amateur group, they are perhaps the most significant theatre group in modern Manx history. Through their central place in the Manx Cultural Revival and their premiering works by some of the island's most important playwrights, in Christopher R. Shimmin and J. J. Kneen, the Peel Players have been compared to the Abbey Theatre in Dublin for their significance to Manx culture.〔 ==Plays produced== * ''Illiam Kodhere's Will'' by Christopher R. Shimmin * ''The Charm'' by Christopher R. Shimmin * ''Luss by Graih'' by Christopher R. Shimmin * ''Catchin Kirree'' by F. Corris * ''Ellie's Stranger'' by W. Clucas Kinley In addition to these named plays, it is known that plays by J. J. Kneen were also produced〔 (possibly some or all of ''Cushal Keoi'' (c. 1913), ''Shelg y Dreain'' (c.1913), ''A Li'l' Smook'' (1913) and ''Yn Blaa Sooree'' (1913)).〔 It can also be assumed that plays by William B. Meyrick were produced, since he wrote a number of plays in this period when he was one of the Peel Players' leading actors.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Peel Players」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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