The scene at the playing fields. A previously unpublished image.

The Pied Piper took on a modern image in Padiham on Saturday morning, 18th September 1971, when a group of young actors, students and teachers took to the streets to interest children in an open air play on the Burnley Road playing fields. The modern Pied Piper was Robert English, a theatre art fellow at Nelson College of Further Education, and he was supported by a collection of costumed students, and actors from the Theatre-Mobile company. Preceded by a collection of drums, tambourines, and by almost anything that would make a noise, Pied Piper Robert led his company around the residential areas of Padiham, collecting 30 to 40 children on the way. By the time the procession had reached the playing fields there were about 70 children, who took part in an improvised costume play about a time machine.

The event was sponsored by the Mid-Pennine Association for the Arts and apart from being a useful exercise in street theatre technique, the performance also served as publicity for Theatre-Mobile's "The Witches of Pendle," which will be performed at Padiham tomorrow. An official of the Mid-Pennine Association considered that the exercise had been a huge success.