Jacqui and Brian have drawn on a great pool of information and their mutual interest in history and music to research and create ‘Tyrants and Traitors’. The show is performed in the style of a radio play with a live audience using the American Civil War as a backdrop that binds together the songs, personal stories, photographs and drawings of the era. ‘Tyrants and Traitors’ tells a tale that is in turn comic and tragic, yet always fascinating, entertaining and informative.

The industrial revolution brought many changes to the social structure of Europe. Its impact was no less marked in the new and rapidly expanding United States of America. Along with the benefits of the new technologies came unrest and the desire of the Southern States to have primacy of State Determination over the rule of Federal Government. One major area of dispute was the right to keep slaves and to extend the institution of slavery to the new Western States.

The invention of the Cotton Gin made cotton a valuable commodity and most of worlds supply was produced in the Southern States of America on plantations worked by slaves, adding to the political dispute.

Civil war between the Northern and Southern States broke out in 1861 raging on until 1865. It was the first modern war, including the use of telegraph, railways for the movement of troops and supplies, and steam driven ships, bringing about the first battle between ironclad warships, and the first ship sunk by a submarine. It was an intensely personal war, not only dividing a nation but families as well.

Along with the advancement in technology, improving standards of education meant that most people could read and many could write giving rise to a large number of personal letters. Reporting of the war was no longer the preserve of the officer class. Increased circulation of newspapers, with reporters at the front line, and soldiers’ letters home, kept the public well informed.

Many songs were written - for musical entertainment (minstrel shows), for recruiting rallies and by soldiers. Printed music was widely available and affordable. There were also the first candid photographs of warfare, with some copied in newspapers.

This wealth of music, letters, photographs and many memoirs written after the war has left a great lasting legacy of preserved information, giving a wide viewpoint of the war from all sides.

Jacqui and Brian Ross are musicians, singers and story-tellers living in Somerset. Singing together and individually, they are steeped in the traditional music of the English speaking world from which they draw their wide ranging material. They perform at folk clubs and festivals, run singarounds and workshops, and are also members of "Called To Be Saints" West Gallery Choir.

Brian has been involved in folk music for 40 years. He has run folk-clubs, and was a founder member of Bishopswyc, and Bodger Mummers. He has performed music and acted in theatre productions, including "Larkrise" and "John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert",

Jacqui was born into a family where folk songs have been sung for generations and grew up singing both folk and classical music. She is a fine exponent of traditional British Balladry. She has run folk-clubs and performed in folk theatre, including "The Last of England" and "An evening with Henry Cave".

…a brilliantly formulated and presented account… …just the right balance of songs and the spoken word… If this show comes your way, DON’T MISS IT!!