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WAMDS have been fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Down In the Valley project has been awarded over £24,000 towards a project to enable young people to explore the social history of Whitworth since World War One culminating in the creation of a four night musical performance, an exhibition and oral history CD. Spanning almost 100 years, the production will explore the social history and heritage of the valley and the people, stories, characters and events that have influenced how we are today.
Working in collaboration with Whitworth Historical Society, Touchstones and the North West Sound Archive, the project utilises photography, web design, sound recording and archiving to capture the every day stories, lives and memories of local folk. Young people have conducted oral history interviews and are in the process of producing a highlight CD and website in addition to the 4 night musical production, which will be free to all local people and staged in October 2008 at Whitworth Civic Hall.
Activities
As part of the project, members of our WAMDS youth section have worked with members of the local community to contribute their photographs, newspaper cuttings, stories, objects and memories to help with the writing of the show.
Young people have undertaken a photography project comparing “then and now”, taken guided walks of the valley with Whitworth Historical Society, worked with the local museum to research and photograph objects, scan photos and documents, and interview society members.
The project is still looking for people to take part in an oral history project, and have received training from the North West Sound Archive in Clitheroe.
In addition, to get to understand the local heritage of the area, the group spent a full day with staff at Rochdale Museum and resource centre exploring the collections, gathering and adapting stories and using the expertise and ex perience of the collections manager and museum staff.
The show
The production itself is a 2 act journey that follows the ups and downs of an ordinary Lancashire family
For further information on how to get involved, contribute an object, document or photograph or take part in the Oral History project, contact Andy Kelly the project coordinator on 07947 609277
Tickets for the show will be totally free!
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