Star hails eccentric Morris dancers (From Swindon Advertiser)

Star hails eccentric Morris dancers

8:50pm Thursday 24th September 2009

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The star of a new film about Morris dancing has said he hopes it will help the "quintessentially English" pastime flourish.

Sir Derek Jacobi insisted the tradition would never die out as colourfully-dressed Morris men danced for crowds at the premiere of Morris: A Life With Bells On in London's Leicester Square.

Actors including Emma Thompson, husband Greg Wise, Sir Derek and Harriet Walter attended the premiere of the comedy faux-documentary which follows the fortunes of Millsham Morris, one of the leading sides in the country.

Sir Derek, who plays traditionalist Quentin Neely, said the film was made with "no budget, no money, but a lot of heart, love and passion".

He said he hoped it would help Morris dancing flourish, adding: "It will survive whatever anybody says. It's a wonderfully eccentric part of English tradition. It's quintessentially English."

Charles Thomas Oldham wrote and produced the film and starred as its leading character, Derecq Twist.

He said: "I was immersed in Morris dancing from a young age. It's in my DNA."

Oldham's wife, Lucy Akhurst, who directed the film and appeared in it as a physiotherapist, said she hoped it would be picked up in the United States.

She added: "We'd love to take it to the States and introduce the world to the Morris."

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