Eastern Angles seeks local stories for an exciting new project
Suffolk theatre company, Eastern Angles, is reaching out to the people of Ipswich and asking them to help with an exciting new creative venture.
Called ‘Oh! What a Wonderful Westgate’, the project will be a collection of audio stories, poems and songs, all recounting the history of the Westgate ward in Ipswich.
People are being asked to submit their own stories inspired by the town - it could be its history, a personal experience of living in the area, its nature, the people, shops, weather, transport, animals or home, whatever fires your imagination about Ipswich in 2025!
The stories can be about the things that bring you joy, fascinate you and move you. Or maybe you are facing a challenge that you might want to highlight.
Eastern Angles wants to know what you care about in 2025.
Any stories that are submitted will then be collected together and a selection of those shortlisted will be recorded by actors and turned into a beautiful sound installation. The public will then be able to enjoy the stories, either from home or, preferably, by listening to them while undertaking a walking tour of the Westgate ward.
The tours are set to take place during the day on Saturday, November 8 and will begin at the Eastern Angles Centre.
Project lead, Kirsty Tallent, said: “This is going to be a unique, one-of-a-kind project. It’s a chance for the people of Ipswich to celebrate their history and the things that are important to them. So, get writing, creating or singing - we can’t wait to hear from you!”
‘Oh! What a Wonderful Westgate’ forms part of a larger nationwide project called ‘Our Freedom: Then and Now’ funded by Future Arts Centres. This project is a celebration of the 80th anniversary of VE/VJ Day. Arts organisations from across the UK have come together to produce projects reflecting on what freedom means 80 years after the end of the Second World War.
Eastern Angles is the regional touring theatre company for East Anglia. It has a national reputation for producing high-quality new writing with a regional flavour. Based at the Eastern Angles Centre in Ipswich, the company has been touring professional theatre productions into the towns and villages of East Anglia since 1982.
THE DETAILS:
Stories need to be submitted by 5pm on Monday, October 20 to be eligible for the shortlist.
Submit your story by emailing Kirsty on kirsty@easternangles.co.uk, or sending it by post to Eastern Angles Centre, Gatacre Road, Ipswich IP1 2LQ.