This autumn, Derby Theatre, through Derby CAN (Creative Arts Network), and in collaboration with project partners and the community, will produce a show with the anniversary of Derby County winning the FA Cup in 1946 at its heart.
The piece will also include memories of the match and how Derby has changed over the years, and the Theatre would like to invite members of the local region to share their stories and memories of the city with them. Derby CAN (Creative Arts Network) is a three-year, multi-partner Arts Council England £1.5 million funded project to work, co-curate and co-create with different communities, to support and strengthen the performing arts sector in the local area.
Through Derby CAN, the Theatre and partners have engaged with Jamie Thrasivoulou to develop the story and script for the play. Jamie is the Derby County Football Club poet, an award-winning writer, poet, lyricist, workshop facilitator from Derby and a passionate East Midlander who likes nothing more than extolling the virtues of his home county of Derbyshire. Co-directing the play will be Sarah Brigham and Paul Warwick.
How To Get Involved And Share Your Stories And Memories
As part of the writing of the play, people from the local area are invited to join Jamie and members of the team from the Theatre to a Virtual Pub/Café, a series of free online events for people to come together over a pint or a cuppa, to share stories, congregate, conversate and recall memories of the city from, and since, this time.
During these events, Jamie will also invite people to consider the following provocation: Derby is a place defined by its pride and history. In many ways, it is also a haunted town struggling to cope with its identity as a city.
If a person from the town of Derby in the year 1946 were to be cryogenically frozen and then resurrected in the city of Derby in 2020; from your point of view, what would they think? What would they think has changed? Would they think it has gotten better or worse? What would surprise them?
The Virtual Pub/Café events will each last for 90 minutes and will be held online via Zoom on Thursday 11th February at 6pm, Tuesday 16th February at 5pm and Friday 19th February at 10:30am (this performance will be BSL interpreted).
How To Book
The Virtual Pub/Café events are free. You can either book online at derbytheatre.co.uk or by emailing tickets@derbytheatre.co.uk.
Spaces are limited, so early booking is strongly recommended. If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to share your story, memories, or to respond to the provocation, please email Andy Mandoiu (Derby CAN Volunteers Co-ordinator) at: m.mandoiu@derby.ac.uk.
For further details and updates, please follow Derby Theatre on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.