Unexamined Lives

The story of the 20th century as lived by residents in the Derbyshire village of Borrowash

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What Did They Think Of It So Far? – Ashbrook School

Number 17: 100 Years’ History of a Borrowash House’ is a specially commissioned play that looks at the residents of a particular house, home to ten families over the years – and through that story the history of our community here in Borrowash.

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What’s Soot? – Julian Hanby

There are always a few defining moments when you’re working on a Community Theatre project. Of course, there is the first meeting (“Will anyone turn up?”); there is the point of no return (“I’ve been saying its months away but now it’s next week!”); and of course there is the moment of applause, of ending, of hugs and of going on your way (“What are we going to do next?”)

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Number 17 100 Years History of a Borrowash House

EARLY DECEMBER 

The stage is up in the school hall.  There are two boxes full of props in the corner of the classroom and there’s some serious word learning to be done.  With over sixty ‘characters’ in the play, and a cast of 35, many of the children will be portraying more than one character.  The challenge is to be ‘in character’ in the right place, at the right time, in the right costume with the right props   It’s fun and exciting,  it’s also hard work – lots of potential for chaos.

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Number 17 Blog update – November

 NOVEMBER 

Counting down to the big day (and night), our November sessions involve devising songs music, chants and poems for the performances, more drama ‘games’ and work on tableau formations.

With poet Dave Wood, the children create skipping rhymes, chants, and poems about moving. With 100 years and dozens of different ‘custodians’ living in Number 17 there’s a lot of ‘moving experiences’ to portray.  This is a Christmas performance so we need a carol or two as well.  No problem for the talented children of  Ashbrook Juniors!

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‘Number 17’ – 100 Years of a Borrowash House

Working with the children of Ashbrook Junior School Borrowash, Derbyshire.

It has been an exciting summer for local writer Chrissie Hall.

Working with Director Julian Hanby, Poet Dave Wood, under the aegis of Wash Arts and funded by Heritage Lottery Chrissie’s been writing a stage play tracing the history of a very special Edwardian villa in Borrowash, Derbyshire.

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Student Project Launched!

The collaborative project between Derby University and Unexamined Lives was officially launched at an event at Derby University yesterday. The launch was reported in the Derby Telegraph (click image below).

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Welcome to Derby University Students!

Today Unexamined Lives and Derby University launch a collaborative student project to use oral histories to explore the lives of ordinary people connected to the Derbyshire village of Borrowash, many of which have been featured in the Derby Telegraph.

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“Student Contribution” Category Launched

Watch this space for an exciting new category coming soon – STUDENT CONTRIBUTIONS.

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