Snow Along the Line is a touching and exhilarating story that traces the life of an extraordinary yet ordinary woman, Phil Jones’ mum Barbara 19.02.28 to 27.03.23, whose journey spans nearly a century of change.
Born in 1928, only months before the Equal Franchise Act granted women full voting rights, her story begins in the industrial heartland of Northeast England and traces the decline of the mining industry to South Wales.
We’re told that Barbara had never stood still, having a zest for life with a loving childhood in Darlington, an ordinary North country railway town. Alongside of this in other parts of the North similar families were living in abject poverty. Whereas for many WW2 devastated communities, including affecting her own, Barbara’s life continued mostly unaffected as she hurtled around the area on her beloved bicycle.
She had a determination to explore the world outside of Darlington, after the war, and with two of her friends she saved enough from her job to take a coach trip to Spain. It was on that trip that she met her future husband, Doug.
Once married she spent the rest of her life in a small mining town in Wales, Doug’s home, which was an unhappy baptism of fire. Her mother told her that she had made her bed so she must lie in it and so she did, making a life for herself and her growing family. She started teaching at night school and developed a greater standing in the town. However, she was always known as ‘the English woman up the mountain’.
Following the death of Doug she embarked on a changed life of continued activity and spending time with dear friends. Cruelly she gradually lost her sight later in her life which came to an end in March 2023. It was whilst conducting his mother’s funeral ceremony that Phil thought that there was a potential theatre show in her story. Hence Snow Along the Line was born.
The show paints a vivid picture of a full life of joys and challenge. Through wonderful songs, spoken word, music, projected images and narration. Theatre-maker and musician Phil Jones, and actor Hannah Barrie, capture the rhythm of a life shaped by both sweeping change and everyday triumph. It is the story of one woman and the lives of many. Written and performed by Phil Jones.
The production explores themes relating to death of a loved one which some audience members may find upsetting.
Audience quotes
“A Brilliant, Brilliant Production!”
“I loved this performance–a moving story told with warmth, spanning years from Yorkshire to Wales”
“Fabulous pictures and the songs blended so well”
“A life sensitively observed through a lens of love”
“Beautiful. Brilliant!!”
Sunday May 17, 2026. 3:00 pm & 7:30pm
The Brunswick, 1 Holland Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 1JF
