Performance Series

DEARLY EARNED

M. Marguerite Mathews & Greg Gathers, Co-Directors

In DEARLY EARNED, Pontine Theatre examines the lives and experiences of 19th century textile mill workers. The Islington Street corrider, surrounding Pontine's residence, The West End Studio Theatre, was once a thriving community of mill and factory workers. Their story, along with the stories of workers in mill towns all over New England, unfolds through letters, diaries and newspaper articles of the period. DEARLY EARNED is a collage of both public and private reflections on early industry, capturing the hopes, the fears, and the terrible difficulties of life in the mills of New England.

The Portsmouth Herald has called DEARLY EARNED, "a testament to human dilligence, resilience and perseverance. The people we learn about become real. The emotional journey is well worth taking. The result is haunting."

To learn more, visit Pontine's dedicated website: dearlyearned.org