As our buildings remain closed and we continue to deliver projects online, we’re delighted to launch a brand new original podcast titled Tales of Theatre. The six part miniseries is hosted by local playwright & poet James McDermott and features members of the local community reflecting on how theatre has shaped their lives. New episodes will be released each Friday, celebrating a different aspect of the performing arts.
Developed through a series of writing workshops & Zoom sessions, each tale has been written during lockdown as we wait for theatres to safely re-open. The audio podcast gives our participants the platform to tell their stories in their own voice and share their love of theatre.
In our first episode, Helen Wells tells the tale of her very first visit to the Opera, watching Gloriana by Benjamin Britten. When asked about the podcast series, Helen said:
“It is a moving and inspiring project to be a part of. I miss going to the theatre with friends, attending classes and having a cup of coffee afterwards. Getting together and sharing culture is so important to me. The online workshops for Tales of Theatre tapped into memory and experiences of theatre that I’ll never lose and got me writing about it! It is great to be able to share my stories while the theatre is closed.”
Tales of Theatre is part of our Creative Community Recovery Programme, which has been made possible thanks to the generosity of donations through our Coronavirus Crisis Appeal, as well as grants from the Norfolk Community Foundation and Norwich Freemen’s Charity.
Sam Patel, Norwich Theatre Community Participation Manager, said:
“We all miss not being able to watch live performances. Creating Tales of Theatre has given people the opportunity to reflect on memorable times and personal experiences of theatre. Our buildings are closed, but through the Creative Community Recovery Programme our work has continued, connecting with those most in need. The stories are so heartfelt and a joy to listen to.”
James McDermott, Creative Practitioner for Norwich Theatre, added:
“It’s a pleasure to hear these stories come together in this podcast series and I hope these tales transport listeners back into theatres classrooms and auditoriums.”
If you have been inspired by the project and would like to send us your own tales, please email media@norwichtheatre.org
Episode one of Tales of Theatre is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all popular podcasting platforms. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the show to hear more stories like this in the future.