REVIEW: Many Happy Returns! celebrates Northumberland Libraries

DID we ever imagine that our library service was 100 years old? Well, on Friday, November 15, the first of four theatre performances of Many Happy Returns! took place in Bellingham to a packed hall to celebrate this very fact.

Commissioned by Northumberland Libraries to bring to conclusion a year of celebrating their centenary, the play, Many Happy Returns!, was written, produced and directed by Théâtre Sans Frontières, starring the members of Hexham Adult Drama Group, based at the Queen’s Hall, who between them, put on a show of spectacular proportions.

Many Happy Returns! celebrates the centenary of the Northumberland Library Service (Image: Anita Nicholson) The performance included live music and dance to accompany the amusing and touching retelling of the history of the library service; from its beginnings in 1924 through to the 21st-century challenges that technology and society's reading habits bring.

READ MORE: Laura van der Heijden and Jâms Coleman to perform at Hexham Abbey

Based on research at Northumberland Archives and conversations with Northumberland readers and librarians, Many Happy Returns! used storytelling, original music and songs to engage the audience in an evening of great celebration. The cast’s performance of the work, including singing, dancing and playing instruments, helped the stories to shine, as the various curious and true tales poured out to the delight of everyone.

Many Happy Returns! brings the stories of people involved in the service to life (Image: Anita Nicholson) Many Happy Returns! brings stories of the many people involved in running the service to life. From the original county librarian, Ruth Baker, to mobile librarians such as John Cunliffe, who became the author of Postman Pat. We heard the experiences and reflections of people visiting libraries across the county, on buses and in buildings, past and present. And how transformation is still at the core of its trailblazing success.

So many tributes were paid, including special notices from children’s author David Almond, Northumberland poet Linda France and councillor Jeff Watson who has the portfolio for the county’s library services. All expressing their own library experiences as well as the life-altering difference it made to them personally.

What an incredible journey and what a fitting way to conclude a year of celebration with Many Happy Returns! which will be heading around the county until November 22.

In addition to this final celebration, Northumberland’s library service has delivered a jam-packed year of fun activity for all.

From rural wellbeing groups run by Théâtre Sans Frontières, to the return of the Northern Poetry Library to Morpeth Library. There have been poetry competitions collecting experiences and memories of the library service.

Children aged 12 and under were asked to design a 100-year birthday card, showing everything they love about their library. We have had story-sharing via special hubs set up in each library that provides everyone with an accessible opportunity to tell their story. The poet laureate, Simon Armitage held a poetry reading evening with local guest poets.

 There is an exhibition to showcase 100 years of the library service with old photographs and documents mapping the history. As well as the recording of oral histories of people who remember the early days, which will be deposited with Northumberland Archives, as well as being made available in the various libraries. What a magnificent way to celebrate 100 years of books.

Many Happy Returns! runs until November 22.

Performances at:

Allendale Village Hall November 21, 2.30pm.

Haltwhistle Library November 22, 7pm.

Tickets £7 including refreshments.
Book on Eventbrite: nlandlibs.eventbrite.co.uk/ or call into your local library.
For more information visit www.mylibrary.co.uk.