The Queen's Shoulders 6:00pm performance
6:00pm, Thu, 2 Oct 2025
- Event Details
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Type of event: Performance Start time: 6:00pm Venue: BCB, Spode Works, Church Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1BU See map below Ticket pricing/options: Free Tickets: 
Seated capacity for The Queen's Shoulders is limited to 60, however, if space allows, non ticketed standing room will be available on a first come, first served basis.Description: The Queen’s Shoulders
How a local woman came to feature on one of the most iconic images of the 20th century.
In 1964 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sat for Staffordshire artist Arnold Machin, as he modelled the clay cameo for his iconic postage stamp image. However, Machin only sculpted the Queen’s head, and the Palace decided it needed something extra - shoulders! Machin asked a young Stoke-on-Trent woman, Angela, to sit for him as he modelled the monarch’s shoulders. Angela remained in the area, becoming a teacher and raising her family in the Staffordshire Moorlands. She was involved in local theatre groups and choirs throughout her life.
Originally commissioned for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, this new production celebrates Machin’s Stoke-on- Trent roots as part of the Stoke100 Centenary celebrations and brings you the extraordinary true story of how the local woman’s shoulders would become known throughout the world.
Directed by Polly Wain and featuring Ava Ralph as Angela, The Phoenix Singers bring this unique story to life with words by Victoria Brazier and music by Ashley Thompson.
You’ll never look at a stamp in the same way again.
