Oral histories from Radio Orwell 257 have inspired "Living On Air", a new production featuring twelve actors living with sight loss.
The big picture: Suffolk-based performing arts company Cohere Arts has developed the play through its visually impaired drama company High Spirits, following research conducted with Suffolk Archives.
Living on AirCohere Arts
The details: Living On Air draws audiences into the world of Radio Bardwell, a fictitious local radio station serving the Suffolk community, described as "an absurd romp through local radio and the sexual politics of the 1970s".
Behind the scenes: Last year, the cast collected oral histories through community story-collecting events at Ipswich venues, capturing recollections from former listeners, presenters and employees of Radio Orwell 257.
What they're saying: Emma Bernard, writer and director of Living On Air, reflected: "The 1970s was an exciting era for local radio, and it has been so wonderful to be able to draw on people's experiences of Ipswich's beloved Radio Orwell when making this play. However, any similarities with our Radio Bardwell are purely coincidental!"
For your diary: Performances will be held at the Sir John Mills Theatre in Ipswich from Saturday, 12 April to Sunday, 13 April.
Accessibility focus: All performances will be fully accessible, with BSL interpretation and integrated audio description.
The background: The play was developed with funding from Arts Council England and The National Heritage Lottery Fund, with support from New Wolsey Theatre and Eastern Angles.
The bottom line: "Living On Air" offers a unique opportunity to experience local history through inclusive theatre, with tickets available at easternangles.co.uk/event/living-on-air.
An overview of the local poetry and spoken word scene and how it has grown into a thriving, self-sustaining creative community that develops talented writers and performers.
You’d be forgiven for missing the rise in popularity of poetry and spoken word in Ipswich because it's been happening slowly, quietly, and in non-traditional spaces. A community-driven grassroots movement, spoken word events are largely run by passionate experts who are themselves writers and performers.
Regular spoken word events
In Ipswich, we are lucky to have three regular, monthly spoken word events: Words & Verses, Storytelling with Bards Aloud, and Word Herd. Plus, there are infrequent poetry groups from Suffolk Poetry Society and, most recently, a poetry reading at Ipswich Library featuring five emerging young writers from across the region.
Poets reading at Ipswich LibraryAmy WraggAmy Wragg
Words & Verses
The first regular spoken word event to be established in Ipswich was Words & Verses, in 2012 – a free-entry show on the first Tuesday of the month at The Spread Eagle. It runs as an open mic, offering anyone who turns up and writes their name down five minutes to speak on the microphone.
Welcoming both original writing and covers, it is a radically inclusive platform for artists at all stages of development to hone their craft in front of a friendly audience. It has become so popular that, in only three hours, on average, 18 poets take the mic at each event.
Poet performing at Words & Verses, at The Spread EagleAmy WraggAmy Wragg
Storytelling with Bards Aloud
Storytelling with Bards Aloud started up shortly after W&V, quickly cementing itself as a much-beloved addition to the cultural diary.
Held monthly on the third Tuesday of the month in the back room of The Dove, Bards Aloud prides itself on making people feel at home. Taking a more relaxed approach, they have some guest performers alongside open mic participants. All of them perform a cappella without the aid of any tech, which can feel like an easier first step for many writers sharing their work for the first time.
Storyteller Gerry Donlon performing at The DoveAmy WraggAmy Wragg
Word Herd
Last week, we saw the launch of ‘Word Herd’ at CHIp Art Studio on Turret Lane, a paid entry event featuring three astonishingly talented poets, all from Ipswich: Morgan, David Mustill, and Jacke Montague. Run by the new non-profit SoapBox Spoken Word CIC, this event has been launched to offer talented poets a chance to develop a longer set.
Ranging from 15 mins up to a full 45 minutes, Word Herd runs on a ticket-split basis, ensuring the poets are paid for their work and that SoapBox can continue to deliver free creative events for the local community.
Jackie Montague performing at Word Herd, CHIp StudioAmy WraggAmy Wragg
Developing local artists
How we keep talent from leaving Ipswich is often discussed, but money is rarely broached. Musicians, poets, and artists always seem to be the first to be asked to work for free when a community event is planned—even when entry is charged and it is run by a commercial entity.
And yes, of course, volunteering is a beautiful thing (that not so many can afford to do these days). However, if we want to continue to develop Ipswich’s reputation and stop the brain drain, we need to value our local poets, musicians and artists with cold hard cash.
The launch of Word Herd proved that we are happy to pay an entry fee when it is being used to develop our creative people and communities. Nearly 40 people turned up on a Tuesday night to enjoy a night of original, live and local words – from 3 Ipswich poets – in an art studio that was once a warehouse. Surely a first.
This level of support is a testament to the vibrancy of the creative and cultural communities in Ipswich. It also reflects how a handful of hard-working, committed and knowledgeable artists can – through sheer persistence – create a thriving scene.
All of these events were started by people who couldn’t find the kind of gig they wanted to attend locally, so they started their own. Imagine if we all did this.
Next time you're looking for a specific event to attend locally and are dismayed to find out it doesn't exist, make it yourself. I dare you. I double dare you.
