Stories We Tell: Nelson project from Breaking Barriers part of Nelson Town Deal

Stories We Tell: Nelson, will bring Nelson to life with sound, film and projection, with real stories from the people who live there.

Part of This is Nelson, which is the arts and culture strand of the Nelson Town Deal, audiences can enjoy this experience in Nelson with Rochdale-based theatre company Breaking Barriers.

People will listen through headphones to the memories, life events and experiences of local people, which will animate the walls and pavements of the town.

“It was a flourishing mill town when we came in the sixties and the Arndale Centre was new, and I could hear mills working when I walked to school. You could hear the rattle of the looms.”

Breaking Barriers

The work is the culmination of a series of conversations and dialogue between the creators, Breaking Barriers, and local communities of Nelson. Through discussion; stories and memories have been uncovered, giving insights into real experiences and feelings about Nelson over recent decades.

“It’s full of working class people, beautiful scenery, you’ve got Pendle Hill and the surrounding areas. It’s quite rich in sports history as well, with the football team being the first team to beat Real Madrid abroad.”

Breaking Barriers have expertly blended these personal reflections with visual imagery, animation and soundscapes to create this immersive experience for local people to enjoy in the unconventional performance spaces of ordinary streets.

“You could walk into anyone’s house at any given time, they didn’t even have to be there but you’d walk in. They’d ask you, have you eaten?”

Parvez Qadir, artistic director of Breaking Barriers, said: “This piece encourages people to experience their hometown through new eyes, and invites people to witness ambitious work on their local doorstep; creating a magnificent love letter to the places and spaces they call home”.

Performances will be on Wednesday February 28th; Thursday February 29th; Friday March 1st and Saturday March 2nd at 7pm and 8pm each evening. Tickets are free, but must be booked via https://www.in-situ.org.uk/get-involved.

Details

The audio experience will be available through the headphones provided. This is a guided walking tour undertaken in a group. The route is mostly flat but there may be curbs - accessible options have been located.

Breaking Barriers have worked closely with an access consultant to ensure that the route is suitable for wheelchair users. Meet at Nelson Bus Station; end at Macleod Street. Please wear comfortable footwear and dress appropriately for the evening weather.

The walk will last a maximum of 30 minutes, and a hot drink and food will be provided at the end of the night.

This is Nelson

This partnership programme between In-Situ, Building Bridges and Super Slow Way is taking place over the next three years, bringing artists together to help us re-imagine Nelson, open up underused spaces, think sustainably and support ground-up community activism in the town.

Part of the Nelson Town Deal. This is Nelson is delivered in partnership with In-Situ, Building Bridges Pendle and Super Slow Way.