Young people from Stroud have been learning about life in their area more than 80 years ago – and developing a stage show about the region’s history.
A group of Stroud children have been brought together by the Roots & Reflections programme, a collaboration between Gloucestershire Libraries, Gloucestershire Archives and Tewkesbury’s Roses Theatre, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Their mission: to put memories of Stroud on stage!
The project brings the generations together, say organisers. Older Stroud natives provided their memories of life in prior decades before Christmas, and since then the young people have been getting to know the stories – and putting them to music, dance and drama.
Memories of years gone by that the children have dramatized include Saturday afternoons at Sheepscombe Cricket Club, Friday nights in the Bungalow Bath, and coming home from dances in town, only to walk home in the dark across the fields of the Five Valleys.
The creative youngsters performed their production for the first time on Saturday, March 14th at the Centre for Science and Art. The show – also featuring a recreation of the Ritz Cinema burning down and ballroom dance lessons at Audrey Butts – will be repeated in May at The Roses as part of a larger production bringing together similar groups from across the county.
Connecting The Generations
It’s all part of a wider project to bring communities together, says Florrie Taylor of The Roses, who facilitated the Stroud rehearsals and performance.
“Roots & Reflections began life last year, when Gloucestershire Libraries started recording the memories of people born just after the Second World War,” she explains. “We’re now in the phase of enabling young people to re-interpret these memories in creative ways.
“It’s a love letter to the local community!”
Special Memories
The memories recorded as part of the project – which will all be stored in Gloucestershire Archives – were wide-ranging, but also shared many of the same themes. Taylor found that memories of nights out and the sociability of Stroud were common.
“It’s been great to go straight to the source, for both the memories and our shows,” says Taylor. “We’ve asked local people to record their stories, and we’ve asked local children to set these to song and dance in local places: parish halls, scout huts, and so on.
“And then in May we all get together for one big show in Tewkesbury, where the children will take over the whole theatre building, performing new material as well as reviving their first show!
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for communities to come together, remember their shared past – and build a shared future. We’re excited to see everyone in May!”
