Pedal Power

MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: Mikron Theatre Company

Pedal Power
Square Chapel
Halifax, Yorkshire
Sunday 19 September 2010

This fast-moving play looks at 100 years of cycling history as Mikron’s team of four freewheelers chart the amazing story of the socialist cyclists of the National Clarion Cycling Club.

Tom Groom, co-founder of the Clarion Cycling Club once said “Say no man lives until he has been on tour with the Clarion C.C ‘Till then he but exists!” Formed in 1895, the Clarion cycling club took its name from Robert Blatchford's socialist newspaper. The cycling club grew during the early 1900s, peaking at 8000+ members and with sections all over the UK.

Working class people were getting their freedom on bikes in the countryside and the Clarion was spreading the word, and the newspaper, to industrial towns and villages. In those days before most people could own a car, the bike gave freedom and fellowship so the Clarion thrived. The club still exists with 650 members and 25 sections around the country.

Mikron Theatre excel with this type of material – history with social benefits – and they intertwine the story with the tale of the last day of business in a modern Manchester cycle shop to produce a performance that includes laughter, tomfoolery and rousing songs.

Mikron Theatre Company began when Mike Lucas, Sarah Cameron and Ron Legge took a show to the Edinburgh festival in 1963. Mikron was named after MIKe, RON and Sarah CameRON and is the Greek word for small, which they still are, in the good sense of the word.

Pedal Power