Last year, we successfully recruited enthusiastic local community members to create, develop and perform “Buried Treasures” in Brockley and Ladywell cemetery - filling the chapel and grounds with delights and debates about Brockley’s past and future. Under professional support and direction, 25 community members worked with local historians and conservationists to share stories and personal experiences of the area. These contributions were shaped by a professional writer into a performance of songs and local history stories. Participants of all ages (from 8 - 85 years); from the Lewisham community took part in the show - performed to an audience of app 120 Lewisham residents - as part of the Brockley Max Festival.
The quality of the production was impressive. Feedback and responses to the performance was stunning! We want to build on this - developing a brand new performance for 2016 - recruiting new members and growing our company.

What we'll deliver:

• We will imagine, shape, rehearse and deliver a performance based on personal experience and stories of the local area.
• We will perform a unique show to the Lewisham community as part of the Brockley Max Festival.
• We will recruit local community members to take part – inspiring and instilling in them the confidence to perform.

Why it's a great idea:

This is an informal fun way to bring together members of the community - who have little or no acting experience - creating a new piece of theatre and performing it to a local audience. Our experience is that local people who participate are inspired - gaining confidence they never thought they might have, and breaking down the barriers built by the many changes in the area! Ultimately this is a collaborative opportunity for all parts of the community to come together; share their personal accounts of life in the area; and achieve a memorable creative enterprise which they can share with families friends and residents of Lewisham.

Steps to get it done:

• We will advertise and recruit our performers - drawing on local community groups
• We will advertise the performance widely - as part of the Brockley Max Festival
• Participants will share stories drawn from their experiences of the area
• We will perform our new piece to our community audience
• We will select and prepare the venue (again likely to be open air)