Forty Years On Project
Forty Years On is an ambitious and exciting three year programme of theatre, oral history and archive work. Led by Eastern Angles Theatre Company and the Peterborough Archives Service, it will explore, archive and creatively interpret forty years of Peterborough history from 1968 to 2008.
With £160,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Forty Years On will give local people the chance to investigate the history of Peterborough’s development and see it celebrated in a touring documentary show. Meanwhile, £60,000 from Arts Council England’s ‘Grants for the arts’ scheme will support a new community play based on the research and stories of residents.
Over 100 volunteers will take part in the Forty Years On project. They’ll catalogue and conserve the archives of the Peterborough Development Corporation to enable public access to the material for the first time. Alongside this, participants will collect over 150 oral histories from long term residents, those who relocated to Peterborough during the city’s rapid 40-year expansion, as well as Peterborough’s established immigrant groups and more recent arrivals from Eastern Europe. The interviews will form a valuable oral archive within Peterborough Archives Service.
Visit the volunteering page for information about our latest volunteering opportunities, or contact us at volunteering@vivacity-peterborough.com 01733 864775 if you are interested in getting involved in any aspect of the project.
Have a listen to a snippet from a song from the recent successful production of ‘Parkway Dreams’ and hear what some of the audience thought about the show.
If you would like a FREE copy of the ‘Forty Years On’ commemorative booklet, which includes photographs, maps and quotes taken from interviews with members of the Peterborough Development Corporation, business owners and residents, please contact us.
In Spring 2014, the interviews and further research will be turned into a large-scale community play, featuring up to 100 community performers. The project will leave behind a complete and fully accessible archive and educational materials for school curriculum projects.
Download our latest newsletter below or visit our events and activities page for updates on our progress.
