A SEAT AT THE TABLE
‘A Seat At The Table’ is a theatre project inspired by and made with residents connected to the Community Hubs that sustain many neighbourhoods across County Durham. Through collaborative workshops and powerful performances, the project gives voice to the challenges and triumphs of these essential community spaces.
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
'A Seat At The Table' culminated in a sold out first staged reading of a play at The Big Club, Newton Aycliffe. Photo credit: Rachel Deakin
“This is a perfect example of community theatre created with and for the community it works alongside. The use of professional creative team working with people who may not have experienced theatre created a piece of work that was meaningful and is a testament to the times we find ourselves living in.”
— Audience Member
ABOUT THE PROJECT
A Seat at The Table was commissioned by NoMoreNowt. Over the course of 3 months, Mustard Stories ran story collection workshops at Community Hubs including Junction 7 at the Ark in Newton Aycliffe, PACT House in Stanley and Stanley Young People’s Club in Co. Durham, creating a script inspired by service providers, service users and members of the public that they encountered.
The first version of this script was performed at The Big Club in by a cast of 20, made up of professional actors and the community participants.
The project continued into the autumn of 2024 with the creation of an episodic radio play.
“There’s a reason we do the community meal, it’s ‘cos food has a way of bringing people together. You just need to grab a seat.”
Creative Team
Director JonLuke Mckie
Writer Elijah Young
Producer Eilis McGowan
Sound Designer Elliot Mann
The Cast The Cast: Kylie Ann Ford, Jacqueline Phillips and residents from Junction 7, PACT House Stanley and Stanley Young Person's Club.
Radio Play recorded at White Wolf Studios Photography by Rachel Deakin
Commissioned by No More Nowt