Next year Public Record will be performed by community members and professional artists from across the city at The Fire Station in Sunderland city centre. The production, developed in collaboration with Sunderland Culture and Sunderland Empire, is part of the National Theatre’s Public Acts programme, a nationwide initiative creating extraordinary acts of theatre and community.
Last year the programme produced five episodes of The Odyssey – one at The Fire Station – which culminated in an epic finale production which brought performers from five locations together on the National Theatre’s Olivier stage in August 2023.
Two of those performers were Sunderland-based Colin Greasley and Cheryl Francis.
Originally from Brighton, Cheryl moved to Wearside in 2019, and is a librarian at the University of Sunderland’s Medical School. She hadn’t performed on stage until her involvement in The Odyssey.
“I got so much out of the experience, and being relatively new to the area, it was a great way to meet new people and form friendships.
“We created a WhatsApp last year and many of us have kept in touch, so it was lovely to hear the National Theatre were going to be working in Sunderland again – with the same production team. I signed up very quickly and have thoroughly enjoyed working with them again.
“For The Odyssey production in Sunderland I was a shipmate and sailor, and then when we performed the final fifth episode at the National Theatre I was given two other roles. It was such an inspiring experience, and I’m enjoying being part of Public Record just as much.”
Like Cheryl, Colin isn’t originally from Sunderland – he moved to the city in 2021 and found being involved in The Odyssey introduced him to a new friendship group.
He said: “The Odyssey was an incredible experience, one that I’ll never forget. It quite literally transformed me – I came to Sunderland by myself, but through the show made plenty of new friends. Although we’ve kept in touch over WhatsApp, it’s been great to catch-up in person and working on another show has been amazing.
“The Alumni team is so supportive and friendly, but so are the team from the National Theatre and it’s been lovely to catch-up with them too. I was so proud of what we produced last year and I know Public Record will be just as amazing.”
Community groups including The Odyssey Alumni Group have been taking part in weekly creative workshops with theatre-makers from Sunderland Culture and the Empire since the summer. These workshops have been held at the Sunderland Empire and in community venues, but last Saturday (November 23), the groups came together at Southpaw Dance Company’s studio in The Sheepfolds in Sunderland.
Other participating groups are Back on the Map, Connect Company and Sunderland Nigerian Families Group, and they will all now rehearse together at The Sheepfolds for next April’s performances at The Fire Station.
National Theatre’s Director of Public Acts Emily Lim led the first joint session and outlined the premise for Public Record.
The show is a celebration of Sunderland and The Fire Station will be transformed into a recording studio to create a new album about the city; a portrait of the city told through its people. Each track will reflect an aspect of life in Sunderland, or its proud heritage. There will be music and dancing, karaoke and DJs and a house band. Sunderland-born Ross Millard (The Futureheads) has written original music for the show.
Public Record will feature a line up of local legends from Sunderland’s music scene, professional dancers and community groups – it will bring together a cast of more than 100 people to create the sound of Sunderland.
Emily has teamed up with Co-Director and Choreographer Dan Canham, writer Stewart Pringle and Ross to develop Public Record.
Anthony Hope, Senior Creative Learning Manager at Sunderland Empire, said: “It’s been wonderful to reunite with so many individuals who were part of our last Public Acts programme. Their continued involvement is a testament to the impact this work has on the lives of those who take part.
“Our alumni have become passionate advocates, welcoming new participants, sharing their personal stories of growth and resilience, and inspiring others to take the leap to get involved. This spirit of support and empowerment is exactly what makes Sunderland such a remarkable community.”
Helen Green, Sunderland Culture’s Head of Performance, said: “So many people have fed into the creation of this new production including all the participants and many others around the city. The creative team of Emily, Dan, Stewart and Ross have moulded this into what promises to be a unique perspective of Sunderland and its people.”
Public Acts is supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The CareTech Charitable Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Mosawi
Foundation and The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust.
Tickets for Public Record are on sale now at www.thefirestation.org.uk