Teesside's steel heritage to be celebrated

A group of writers and actors have been awarded Arts Council England funding to create a piece of theatre based on Teesside's steelmaking heritage.

Internationally-known writer and Teesside University academic Andy Willoughby is involved as a writer and mentor with the project group which has received £15,000 to create Salamander Songs, based on the end of steelmaking locally. The title comes from a nickname the steelworkers gave to the burning heart of the furnace.

The group will run a series of informal public research sessions via drop-ins at local libraries when the writing team will chat to anyone who has memories of working, living by or has experience of the steelworks on Teesside.

These will take place at Grangetown Library on Friday 28 October, 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Redcar Library on Saturday 29 October, 9.30am to 12.30pm and Saltburn Library on Friday 4 November, 9.30am to 12.30pm. The group is working towards a final show in June 2017 once the initial research phase is complete.

Andy will be working with Redcar Drama Lab to develop a piece of drama which aims to give voice to the hidden human stories behind such a news making event.

Redcar Drama Lab was set up by graduates from the University's Performing Arts and MA Creative Writing courses. They ran the successful Seaside Shorts New Play Festival at Redcar's Tuned In last year following mentoring by professional writers and actors.

Teesside University graduate Lynne Lawson, who won the Dr Richard Griffiths award for her studies, chairs Redcar Drama Lab. She said: 'This is a fantastic opportunity to work on a subject we all feel passionately about with our connections to the local area.'

Lynne, who graduated from Teesside's BA (Hons) Performance for Live and Recorded Media last summer, added: 'We have the chance to really say something about the heritage and legacy of steel making and the impact of the end of an industry that gave birth to the town.'

This new project will also include work with Middlesbrough television and film actor Bill Fellows, who has appeared in dramas such as Downton Abbey, Vera, Broadchurch, along with local theatre director Michelle Plews.

Dan Perry, Redcar Drama Lab member, said: 'I'm delighted to be involved in this project as a writer and film maker on a subject which is so important to the past and future of our towns.'

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