Derby Theatre is on the lookout for social life and holiday stories from local people

Published Friday 6th Oct 2023
Derby Theatre is in pursuit of stories from local people, which relate to their social life and past-time memories, to inform the development and creation of a new series of audio stories.

Derby Theatre has commissioned Midlands-based playwright, Andy Barrett to create a series of audio stories which explore the social life, past and present, of the ex-mining towns and villages in and around Codnor, Heanor, Loscoe, Marehay, Somercotes and Swadlincote; and he is inviting local people to share their stories and memories with him.

Over the next few months, Andy will be out and about in selected Derbyshire towns and villages gathering memories and stories of dancing and singing, cinemas and social clubs, football and cricket; and bingo and bowls. He wants to hear memories about trips to the seaside, singing in choirs or playing the tuba, village shows, and everything else that fills the time when work is over. Andy is keen to find out in what ways these activities have changed over the last forty years. What do you do now to have fun and to spend time with those who share this place where you live?

Do you have a story or memory to share?

If you are able to help Andy in this search for stories, have memories to share, or know somebody that does, you can email him at andy@excavate.org.uk or call him on 07986 594395. OR, do you belong to a group (from one of the above local areas, or another town/village in the Derbyshire area) who are due to meet in the next few weeks that Andy could pop along to (e.g. an upcoming WI, community, social or sports club meeting?); for him to say hello and to gather some stories and memories from your group members? If so, he would love to hear from you.