Mexico Disaster to inspire new Lottery-backed play

A new play about the Mexico Disaster which claimed the lives of 27 Lancashire lifeboat crew will be developed with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The tragedy in December 1886 saw the volunteer lifeboatmen from Southport and St Anne’s crews lose their lives trying to rescue the stricken Mexico which was on its way from Hamburg to Ecuador.

Only two members of the Southport lifeboat Eliza Fearnley’s 16 crew survived, and all 13 of the St Anne’s crew were lost. The Mexico's sailors were finally saved by a lifeboat from Lytham.

Now thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Stage Door Theatre Trust – which creates performing arts and theatrical projects with young people in Sefton and Liverpool - is set to develop a new play, The Mexico 27.

Drama workshops for young people from the Sefton area will research the tragedy, and the Stage Door Theatre Trust will then produce a play which will be performed in several locations across the area.

Some of the young people will perform in the play and work alongside professional local actors.

Trust director Emma Vaudrey said: “We’re thrilled to have received this support. Our huge Thanks go out to National Lottery players who have made this possible.

“We’re confident the project will educate the community about the tragedy of the Mexico Disaster. The money will also employ local creatives to deliver and produce this wonderful heritage project.”

Top: Emma Vaudrey and Lucy Fiori, who will work on the project, with a painting of the Mexico Disaster in The Atkinson at Southport.