This facinating project by Theatre Nomad will collect stories and experiences from older people living in the Covent Garden area to create a dramatic history of the community told in the words of those who live here. Stories will be collected during afternoon tea dances at Dragon Hall in Covent Garden and subsequently through one-to-one interviews. We will be focussing on dancing, past and present, as the theme of the theatre piece.

A small group of actor/workshop leaders will collect the stories and construct them into a short piece of theatre performed by the actors/workshop leaders.

A performance will be given for all involved to hear their stories and share them with family, friends and neighbours at the Tristan Bates Theatre at the Actors Centre in Covent Garden.

It is hoped that this pilot project will be the first phase of an extended project which will develop over 2010 – 2012.

We will be gathering stories through visiting tea dances in October and November, culminating in an informal performance on December 15th, 2009. The project will develop as part of Camden’s Hidden Histories project.

The project will particularly focus on older people to help preserve the history of the local community through the words of those who have lived and experienced it.