The idea
'The Ladies That...' are a group of 5 professional actors/writer/director/composer, who in 2020 created 'Ladies That Bus' & in 2023, 'Ladies That Dig'. Both projects were funded by Arts Council England & created from a period of community engagement(on buses, allotments) where we met YOU...hundreds of 'Ladies That...' in Lancashire, Cumbria & Yorkshire. The incredible stories we heard were used to create a story sharing night, then into two wonderful, acclaimed pieces of theatre that toured back to the communities from whence the stories came.
We now want to met, 'Ladies That Splash'. We'll run story sharing & interview sessions in the local area & come & swim in the Bay with you. Take us to the places where you like to 'splash'. Invite us to your groups. What are the benefits of being around water? In return we'll run singing & writing workshops & from your stories we'll create a work-in-progress free local first showing of our new play, for and about you...'LADIES THAT SPLASH!'
What we'll deliver
- Bring our 5 strong team of theatre professionals together in Morecambe
- Run story sharing sessions locally
- Social media campaign to seek out groups who like to splash
- Have a go at outdoor swimming to find out why you love it so much
- Connect with groups who have a less positive view of the water. Fled homes; been flooded; had hard journeys overseas
- Connect with the RNLI in Morecambe
- Find out if there are cultural barriers to swimming in some communities
- Offer writing workshops with our writer, Joyce Branagh
- Join a singing workshop with our composer and write a Morecambe sea shanty
- The fortnight culminates in a free evening of story sharing and music where you can perform alongside our professionals
Why it's a great idea
The 'Ladies That..' team has found that working, with individuals & groups & sharing stories, gives a sense of catharsis, community connection & being part of something special. People connect over the chosen topic, helping with loneliness & social isolation. They hear their stories amplified & shared with hundreds of people & we know groups/individuals who have participated have felt empowered and uplifted by the championing of their experiences. We wish to champion Morecambe, Lancaster & the Lakes and find out what the benefits are to mental health of outdoor swimming against the backdrop of the Bay. Also to elevate the stories of those from communities who experience a cultural/social barrier to swimming. To sensitively find out the reasons why. We wish to be fully inclusive & one of our team now has level 2 BSL. The project will close with a sharing evening with participation from locals alongside our professionals & music we will all have created during the two week process.
Steps to get it done
- Groups will be contacted re outdoor swimming
- Social media call out to find groups who wish to participate
- Venues contacted re hosting workshops
- Groups identified to participate in sea shanty workshops
- Local Choirs contacted
- Actors, writer, composer and director will join with wild swimming
- Story sharing workshops about what it means to 'Splash' in local libraries
- The team will meet and put these stories into an early draft version of an evening's story sharing
- Music participants will write and rehearse a Morecambe sea shanty with our composer
- Free performance of 'Ladies That Splash' in Morecambe. Open to all with community participation
Our team is DBS checked.
