Bermondsey and Rotherhithe will see two free animated walking tours on June 28, bringing to life their history through song and animation, writes Claudia Macaluso…
The immersive experiences will take place this Saturday at 11am and subsequently at 1:30pm, each one lasting approximately two hours.
The participants will set off from the Salter statues, 10 Bermondsey Wall East, and finish at the Peek Frean Museum, the former Biscuit Factory site where tea and biscuits will be offered to all participants.
John Whelan, artistic director of the People’s Company said: “I’m really excited that we get to bring to life the amazing history of this area in such a fun and interactive way, using the songs to bring to life the history of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe!”
The project was in fact born out of a creative partnership between The People’s Company and Cherry Garden Tenants and Residents Association.
The People’s Company is an inclusive theatre company based at Southwark Playhouse, Elephant and Castle, founded in 2014. It offers locals the chance to explore a range of creative roles in theatre including acting, designing, directing and marketing.
Cherry Garden TRA provides events and services for their local community and runs Cherry Garden Hall on Jamaica Road, with all profits directed towards the local residents.
These tours have been conceived with the scope of connecting the community to its heritage through engaging activities and research.
Highlights of the tours include the Mayflower in 1620, Bermondsey Settlement, The Salters, social reform, St James church, Bermondsey Spa and railway station, music hall and the rich industrial heritage of the area with the factories making jam, pickles and biscuits from Peek Freans.
The People’s Company and Cherry Garden TRA have previously collaborated on the Salter Festival which saw the story of the Salters animated with a new play, site specific tour, exhibition, volunteer researchers and talks on the centenary of the Salters.
This time their latest project offered 10 local volunteers the chance to train in heritage skills, receiving expert guidance from archival specialists and Southwark Archives.
These are collaborating to curate an exhibition, showcasing the results of the community research and highlighting the work of the 10 volunteers.
A new play will also be developed along with the animated site-specific tours, using the findings of the research of the community.
All the material will be deposited with Southwark Archives in order to preserve the research for future generations, and new heritage partnerships will be forged through collaborations with other local creatives, community organizations, and heritage providers to strengthen the impact of the project.
Tickets are available here.
