The canal, which was built in part by Thomas Telford, played a major role in the industrial and economic development of the South Pennines, as well as shaping the local landscape. The Huddersfield Canal Society, who look after and maintain the canal, wanted to celebrate its bicentenary.

A festival day was held on the canal side at Diggle at the mouth of the Standedge Tunnel, the longest canal tunnel in the country. Over 500 people managed to brave the weather to attend. The highlight of the day was a special interactive theatre performance, telling the story of the canal.  The performance involved children from local primary schools, who helped develop the performance at a week-long summer school run by Oldham Theatre Workshop. The children created props and period costumes, as well as joining professional actors for the final performances.

I thought the play was brilliant – an inspired way of telling the story of the canal, and done so professionally

Ruth Hair, audience member