I was delighted to discover that Radio 4's Afternoon Play was about the death of Goth martyr Sophie Lancaster back in 2007. It wasn't really a play, wasn't a drama of any kind really: a set of reminiscences by Sophie's wonderfully dignified mother Sylvia and poems by Simon Armitage, outlining the story. It was about as good as such a broadcast could have been, although I couldn't help hearing Simon Armitage's voice, which is after all such a distinctive one, rather than anything one might imagine Sophie's as being. 'Martyr' is perhaps the wrong word, too deliberate, too political, for something for which rage was not the main response, just a sense of heartbreaking loss and waste.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Black Roses: the Killing of Sophie Lancaster
I was delighted to discover that Radio 4's Afternoon Play was about the death of Goth martyr Sophie Lancaster back in 2007. It wasn't really a play, wasn't a drama of any kind really: a set of reminiscences by Sophie's wonderfully dignified mother Sylvia and poems by Simon Armitage, outlining the story. It was about as good as such a broadcast could have been, although I couldn't help hearing Simon Armitage's voice, which is after all such a distinctive one, rather than anything one might imagine Sophie's as being. 'Martyr' is perhaps the wrong word, too deliberate, too political, for something for which rage was not the main response, just a sense of heartbreaking loss and waste.
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I stumbled accross your blog when searching for information on Black Roses. I agree it was as good as it could have been, it seemed especially fitting as Sophie loved literature & poetry. i was glad it was read by someone with a Lancashire accent, butSimon Armtage's voice does come through strongly. (Could it not?) As to using the word martyr or not, I think some people would make her into a martyr, and it can feel like that to people who share gothic tendencies.'Martyr' suggests an intentionality, a knowing and being prepared to die for a cause - and as you say rage. Sophie had no intention of dying for dressing differently. It is just a heartbreaking loss and waste of a life - and not just Sophie's life so many lives have been affected.
ReplyDeleteHello Tash. Yes indeed, Sophie's death continues to resonate in Gothic circles and actually beyond thanks to the enormous publicity it had at the time. There's another benefit concert being organised at Whitby this year.
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