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THAT WAS THEN, was a piece of reminiscence theatre, written by David Napthaine, and directed by Gez Casey presenting an interpretation of local memories from the Coronation year.
This project was an ambitious attempt to transfer oral history accounts of 1952 &1953 into a piece of reminiscence theatre.
Funded through the Awards for All the project costs came in at just under £5,000.
This was used for resources, a professional scriptwriter, director, and actor as well as collecting the memories and video recording the performance. In addition volunteers from Living History North East assisted in the performance.
A collection of group recordings Living History North East had previously undertaken on the theme of 1952 - the year of the Queen's Coronation was used for creative inspiration and period detail. These provided insight into what was happening in and around Sunderland and conveyed a strong sense of the period. The scriptwriter then wove some of the imagery, memories, thoughts and details into a 40-minute drama.
Gez Casey, the well-known Newcastle director, was employed to work with a professional actor and three volunteers. They rehearsed the play for a full two weeks, before performing to a varied audience.
Based around two main characters, the play juxtaposed the past and the present -an effective device. Old film footage of the Coronation and Sunderland in the fifties was used together with music from the same period -which enhanced the performance's impact even further.
Key Lessons
The performances were well received and stimulated great debate about the period. Working with professional artists to interpret oral history. Reaching a broader audience and widening access. Do not underestimate the dedication and contribution of volunteers and their capacity to meet targets.
Things to consider for future projects
Good planning for such a time-intensive project is essential
Partnership working can add to delays - so additional time needs to be built-in to any timescale
The number of performances could have been increased to maximise audiences, for example a tour could be considered. This would give the project a longer life-span |
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