JanineExciting events happening at Leeds Playhouse, story provided by a fantastic new writer to East Side Story, Eva Peros, with photos and quotes provided by Natalie Tharraleos
1001 Stories is taking over the Playhouse
Over the coming days, Leeds Playhouse will be buzzing with the rebellious sights and sounds of some of Leeds’s trailblazing residents, all of whom just happen to be aged 60 and over.
Launched this week, the theatre’s “1001 Stories Front Of House Takeover” features a range of free creative activities to suit all tastes, from film screenings and performances to workshops and talks, all with the aim of celebrating the talent and diversity that reflect the city’s older generations.
The 1001 Stories project is a culmination of the many hundreds of older people across Leeds who have come forward to share inspiring stories about their lives, some of whom will also be hosting events at the Playhouse over the coming days.
Alex Ferris, Associate Director – Creative Engagement at Leeds Playhouse, said: “The whole idea behind this project is to celebrate what growing older is all about. We’ve invited many different community groups and organisations to come along and share their brilliant creative activity, the things they love, but also the things that they want to say about growing older. Aside from these events promising a great day out for all, our older attendees are also welcome to talk about their thoughts, feelings and life experiences.”
Leeds Playhouse’s 1001 Stories Engagement Manager, Ruth Johnson, added: “The 1001 Stories Takeover event is for everybody and anybody who lives in Leeds. It’s all free and, as well as hearing about the stories of people who have led exceptional lives here in Leeds, our events offer a real mixture of activity, from aerial arts and skateboarding to origami, Zumba and cookery workshops.”
Among its many offerings, there will be “swishing and swapping” at the sustainably-themed “Proud To Be Me” fashion show and clothing exchange this Friday (28 April) between 1pm and 3.30pm.
As well as a stylish fashion display by a number of senior models, there will be an exchange zone, where people are encouraged to check their wardrobes and bring items of their pre-loved, good quality clothing, be it cultural, retro, vintage or otherwise.
One Leeds resident in his seventies, who has shared his fascinating story as an emerging burlesque dancer and will be sashaying down the catwalk this Friday, is Edwin Winlong. He says: “I’d become increasingly interested in burlesque. On a visit to Texas, someone introduced me to a burlesque school, so I went along. I did a live performance on stage, and it really thrilled me. I wanted to do more of it, and last year I went on to perform on stage at the Carriageworks.
“I used to be shy – I was brought up to suppress a lot of who I am. Burlesque has given me the chance to really express myself. My life coach taught me that the way you know how to find your passion in life is when you have a twinkle in both eyes, not just one eye.”
Edwin will be hosting a free burlesque workshop at the Playhouse next Tuesday, 2nd May, between 11am and 12pm. For anyone interested in finding out more about Edwin’s event, Friday’s fashion show, or any of the other events taking place over the coming days, a full schedule can be accessed here. Events will run until Friday, 6th May, with some requiring pre-booking – please see the schedule for further information.
1001 Stories is a mass-participation project that sits at the heart of Leeds’ 2023 Year of Culture. A collaboration between The Performance Ensemble, Leeds Playhouse, LEEDS 2023, Leeds Museums and Galleries and Leeds Older People’s Forum, the joint project puts the voices, histories and stories of older people centre-stage by gathering 1001 stories from those aged 60 and over and creating new artistic work based on these stories. Stories so far can be found here.
https://theperformanceensemble.com/stories-so-far/
https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/1001-stories-front-of-house-takeover/
