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Accent is on Silk Town in biopic

Chris Hudson
26/ 9/2007

THE STAR of the latest Ian Curtis film is not Joy Division, Macclesfield, or even the frontman himself – but the lilting tones of two bicycle shop workers.

Spokesmen Dave Dowse, 20, and Dave Capper, 42, of Bikes on Park Lane are the unlikely heroes of the frontman’s biopic – Control – after they taught a lead actor to speak in a Silk Town accent.

These wheeler dealers are no speech coaches, but were called upon by actor Harry Treadaway, 23, who plays Joy Division’s drummer Stephen Morris, when he was filming in nearby Barton Street – Curtis’ former home.

The lads happily obliged and, in a scene reminiscent from the classic movie My Fair Lady, read out Harry’s lines into a dictaphone for the thespian to learn the famous Macc’ twang.

It was a pleasure for shop owner Dave Capper, of Countess Close, to oblige as he lived in the former Victoria Park flats at the same time as Ian Curtis, who  hanged himself at just 23.

He said: “Ooh my, there’s no getting away from my Macc’ accent.

“I’ve lived here all me life so I’m probably best qualified to teach him how to speak like a Silk Towner.”

But fellow Maxonian Dave Dowse, of Dorset Walk, Upton Priory, who grew up the estate, isn’t even sure he was the best man for the job.
The former Henbury High School pupil said: “A lot of my friends think I sound like I’m from Congleton or Leek, not Macclesfield – but I’m Macc’ born and bred.”

The lads helped get the film, based on the book Touching From a Distance by Curtis’ widow – Deborah – as near to perfection as possible with their dulcet tones and in-depth language knowledge.

Married Dave Capper said: “You can always tell if someone is from Macc’ if they say ‘you’re reet pal’, and say ‘kerry’ instead of curry.
“It’s weird to think I probably walked passed Ian at some point when we both lived in Victoria Park flats, but I don’t really remember the band too much.

“I loved what Tony Wilson did at Factory Records though.”

Even though the lads didn’t receive an invitation to the film’s premiere, they are quite content in the knowledge that their Macclesfield accents are the real Hollywood stars of the show.

Talking Macc

• 
  Alreet? – How are you today sir or madam?
• 
  Ginners a reet hot kerry – I’ll have the vindaloo please
• 
  Alreet me owd – Good to see you my dear old friend
• 
  Ginners afe powd – Can I have a half a pound of cheese
• 
  I’m gerrin buz – I shall be boarding the next carriage