Folk opera tribute to Lisa, our­ engaging campaigner

Published: 28 May, 2010

• READERS who knew Islington’s Lisa Pontecorvo may be interested in Lisa – a folk opera, which will be performed at 4pm on Tuesday, June 8, in Edward Square, King’s Cross – an appropriate setting.

Lisa is famous for her campaign to save and develop Edward Square, which received the government’s Green Flag award, a rare achievement. 
With Friends of Edward Square, Lisa utilised it fully. Children planted thousands of bulbs and did Tudor dances accompanied by The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. On June 8, 100 children will do Scottish dancing in the square, in honour of Lisa’s pride as a Scot. 

A longer version will be performed in The Assembly Room, Islington town hall, at 7pm on Tuesday, June 15. This will dramatise another of Lisa’s campaigns – to save The Regent Quarter from demolition, so that today its converted Victorian factories charm those who visit and work there.

Cezanne Tegelberg plays Lisa, from age 18 to 64, and sings of other campaigns – to save Carnegie’s West Area Library and the industrial chimney in Matilda Street,  and to open Regent’s Canal towpath to residents.

I shared with Lisa her concerns about the massive King’s Cross Central development. We also worked on musical projects. She harped on about Edward Square so much that I threatened to write a show, Edward Square – Hub o’ the World.

On June 8, 100 children will sing a song with that title. For months I researched this project, helped by Lisa’s innumerable friends, and feel I have only begun to understand this engaging, infuriating, warm, vital and unique human being.

Both shows are free. To get tickets for The Assembly Room on June 15, email lisatickets@clear-group.co.uk
ROB INGLIS
Goldington Street, NW1