“I could write a story on a feather’s wing.”
Eddie – Blackhall Rocks
Since Autumn 2022, East Durham Creates commissioned us through their Untold Stories project to engage men across East Durham to co-create a new project that celebrates their hobbies, interests and fandoms. As part of this commission we have been working with men’s crees and community groups in Blackhall, Horden, Trimdon Station, Eastlea, Thornley, Shotton and Easington.
We have been engaging men through story-telling workshops, giving participants a space to share with us their passions, hobbies and interests. They are working with us to co-create a new performance and exhibition that celebrates these untold stories. This includes working to develop a script through theatre making, devising and storytelling workshops, audio design and music curation workshops to develop the soundscape for the show and set building workshops to co-design and develop a tourable set and exhibition.
As part of this project participants have shared their wealth of skills with us and invited us to partake in their hobbies. It has been a joy to learn how to bowl, build Meccano, pigeon fancy, beekeeping, wrestle to name a few. We have been able to learn and share skills, passions and hobbies with one another allowing us to understand why these fandoms are so important to each person.
“I hope I make sense. The racing pigeon originated from the blue dove. And the first people to catch up on them, who realised what they could be used for, were, like, Church people. ‘Cos in the old days you went down the village and no one knew anything about the rest of the world. You used the pigeons to send messages…”
This project is a celebration of local men and their untold stories of fandom. It’s about their passions and the things that bring them joy. It’s about championing the local heroes that are right on your doorstep.
Work-in-Progress Showing of Fandom
Tuesday 3 October, 11am – 2pm
Tickets £1, includes elevenses and lunch
Blackhall Community Centre, Hesleden Rd, Blackhall Colliery, Hartlepool TS27 4LG
To book your tickets contact Blackhall Community Centre on 0191 5867396 or pop into the centre and purchase them directly.
You can also book tickets by emailing us with your ticket requests info@thesixtwenty.com.
Join us for a theatrical adventure into your untold stories and hidden fandoms. From bee-keepers to punk rockers. Champion pigeon racers to gnome collectors. Performers James and Steven will share some remarkable stories inspired by some extraordinary local people.
Over the past year we, at The Six Twenty, have been connecting with local men, of all ages, to learn all about the things they love. Join us at Blackhall Community Centre for a short work-in-progress performance where these stories will be shared for the first time alongside the communtities that have inspired them. After the performance you’ll have the chance to share your thoughts and have your say on how the project will develop. We have lots of ideas about what could happen next but we really need your help to decide!
Plus, you’ll also have the chance to share your own stories, learn a new hobby and make some new friends over lunch.
We can’t wait to meet you and hear your stories!
Here are some snippets of the stories that we’ve heard over the past few months;
We spoke to Norman who won the best garden in Haswell for 9 years in a row. He showed us photographs of his award winning garden and told us about his love of decorating gnomes & garden ornaments. Here’s some of our favourites and Norman’s girlfriend … “don’t tell the wife!”
We’ve chatted with retired miners and heard about the pits. Ronnie recollected stories about swimming in them when they were closed and diving in ‘Pit pool’. “Don’t go over the shaft else you’d go straight down”.
We built Meccano with Harry who told us he’s been building it since the age of 9 and has “tonnes of Meccano” and even a scale truck (that is big enough to sit inside of) in his loft!
We spent many afternoons with Eddie and learnt all about pigeon racing from its origins through to his own Cree and even about Queen Elizabeth’s pigeons; “She inherited a lot of pigeons from her father. They don’t keep the pigeons at Buckingham Palace!”
Thank you to all the men and women that have participated in Fandom and shared their stories with us. Fandom is made to celebrate and honour these untold stories from:
Men’s Cree @ Blackhall Community Centre
Men’s Cree @ Trimdon Station Community Centre
Men’s Cree @ Eastlea Community Centre
Job Club @ Roseby Road Community Centre
Bowls Group @ Thornley Village Centre
Colliery Championship Wrestling Group
Eddie, Bob, Stephen, Norman, Tony and Ken – Home Visits
