The Exploits of Ethel performed by Newfield Students

The recent theatre production by Newfield students in Sheffield, telling the story of Ethel Haythornthwaite, was nothing short of inspiring, with many people sharing how much they had learnt about Ethel.

This includes CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire, the charity she founded, her conservation work both locally and nationally as well as the local landscapes she influenced, such as Longshaw, Blacka Moor and Edale.

The Exploits of Ethel, written by Paul from Whitworks Adventure in Theatre (WAT), was a masterclass in storytelling, vividly portraying the journey of a remarkable woman who was a prominent environmentalist in Sheffield and a trailblazer of the countryside movement nationally. It was particularly poignant that this production, performed by an all-female cast, coincided with the centenary year of CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire, celebrating 100 years since Ethel founded a society to protect the natural beauty of the countryside.

During her lifetime, Ethel campaigned to keep the Hope Valley trainline open, she also purchased land in Edale to protect it from inappropriate development, so it seems a fitting tribute that the first performance of The Exploits of Ethel was in Edale, at the village hall. The cast, production teams and some of the audience members travelled by train on the Hope Valley line to Edale, thanks to free travel provided by Northern Trains and the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership.

One member of the audience told us: “I use the Hope Valley railway frequently. I never knew before now how much Ethel had been involved in fighting to save it, and what motivated her.”

When the train stopped at Grindleford where it says “For Longshaw” on the station sign – the young people got really excited because the Longshaw Estate has a new meaning for them after learning about Ethel’s work to save it and gift it to the National Trust.

The second performance took place at Newfield School, near farmland, waterways, and ancient woodland in the Moss Valley, which Ethel also protected from open-cast mining. And finally, the performances concluded at Sheffield Hallam University, with a talk back performance giving audience members the chance to ask questions about the life and legacy of Ethel, including her determination to establish a Green Belt around Sheffield and passion to create the UK’s first National Park.

“I just wanted to say how profoundly moving, emotional, funny and educational I found last night’s play about Ethel. It was wonderful and so much I didn’t know!”

Performance Feedback

Audience feedback from the performances was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting several key aspects of the production:

• Amazing storytelling: The narrative was compelling and well-structured, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish. One attendee remarked, “As a family who has enjoyed the Peak District it is great to hear the story of how we have been given such amazing access to nature. It is important to learn about Ethel’s fight and how important the environment is.”
• Powerful women: Both the story and the cast were celebrated for showcasing strong, influential women. The audience appreciated learning new and significant details about Ethel’s life and contributions, noting that “She was a trailblazer and youth of today can be inspired by the resilience and determination of her.”
• Brilliant performances: The students delivered a complex script with exceptional skill, with audience members noting that it was “Impressive that such young actors adapted to 3 different spaces and learnt so many lines and were able to demonstrate such a connection with the story of Ethel.”
• Innovative physical theatre: The use of physical theatre to depict cars and trains was particularly praised, as was the decision to have multiple actors portray Ethel, adding depth and variety to the performance. One person said, “Amazing storytelling. Particularly liked the different performance styles e.g. newsreel, silent film.”
• Educational value: The play was not only entertaining but also informative, shedding light on Ethel’s life and the origins of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). The imaginative writing and dynamic performances brought history to life in a memorable way with one person sharing, “I enjoyed learning about Ethel’s life and the origins of the CPRE. The history was great, and I thought the use of imaginative writing and performance brought it to life.”

Ethel Haythornthwaite’s story, as portrayed by the students of Newfield, represents hope and optimism. It highlights how her concerns about the natural world and how the countryside can thrive still remain relevant today.

Researching Ethel’s life

In January 2024, Gertie from Whitworks Adventures in Theatre conducted in-depth research using resources from the CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire archive. She then brought her findings into Year 7 history lessons at Newfield School during February and March. These lessons provided young students with insights into Ethel’s successful campaigns, improving their understanding of her legacy and the broader conservation efforts she championed.

Following the workshops, WAT’s writer Paul created a play about Ethel’s incredible life and legacy so that it could be performed by students at Newfield School. Through their own learnings, cast members wholeheartedly adopted Ethel’s vision and channelled their focus and resilience with their ‘be more ethel’ mantra during rehearsals and performances. In keeping with Ethel’s values, the team also used recycled, re-used costumes and props, as well as sourcing things from charity shops.

This work has been made thanks to EMR, Newfield School, High Peak, Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership, Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust and the British Agricultural History Society.