Workshop writing theatre histories

WRITING THEATRE HISTORIES

WRITING OUR THEATRES’ HISTORIES Why do we write theatre histories?

Who are we writing for?

Hearing from many voices – who gets involved in writing the history of our theatres?

P R E S E RVI N G AN D S U S TAI N I N G O U R H E R I TAG E Martin Collins, archivist at The People’s Theatre, Newcastle

C U R ATI N G , COLLECTING, ORGANISING Elizabeth Tatman, archivist at Bolton Little Theatre

F O R U S , F O R TH E C O M P AN Y, F O R OUR COMMUNITY Beverley Quinn of the Washington Theatre Group (1977-1990s) still keeps the archive from her time on behalf of all the members of that period, but she isn’t very much in touch with the group now.

W H AT K I N D O F M ATE R I A L ?

How do we organise ourselves?

The Minute Book from The People’s Theatre, Newcastle for June 1912

W H AT D I D WE DO? H O W D I D WE LOOK?

Playbill from Bolton Little Theatre’s previous incarnation as Bolton Garrick Club (1913)

The People’s Theatre Newcastle, poster for Jumpy (2016)

THE PEOPLE THROUGH WORDS The archive shines a light on the people of the city and their many faces, picking out individuals from the crowd, and casting silhouettes on the city walls [‌] The fragments of life recorded here are brief, but striking.

When unveiling a drama, the archival record occupies an ambiguous position in which the words of these ensnared actors contain perhaps more intensity than truth.

The Allure of the Archives Arlette Farge

“I REMEMBER…” • Free–write about a performance you participated in.

• At the signal, write “I remember . . .” and whatever comes to mind.

• Keep your hand moving until the time is up.

• Pay no attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, neatness, or style.

• If you get off the topic or run out of ideas, write “I remember . . .” again and start over.

MANY STORIES: MANY STYLES

CHRONOLOGY Oast Theatre, Tonbridge’s chronology that reflects on the repertoire and key events in the chronology of the company.

Interleaved with anecdotes.

P L AYL I S T S Coarse Acting – a micro-history of the highly competitive play entries preserved in a subsection of The Questors Archives.

P I C T U R E TH I S Bolton Little Theatre’s wall of images from their shows over the years. There is a guide identifying each performer and play alongside.

(Heritage Lottery Fund)

MULTIPLE AUTHORS Types of collective voices

Keeping materials from offstage

• Newsletters – keeping in touch with your community: profiles, anonymous letters to the editor,

• Applications to councils, funding bodies and committee minutes

• Reviews – keeping in touch with your audiences: rehearsal reports, newspaper cuttings, what about online comments?

• Working scripts – evidence of collective input –the prompt copy?

• Oral histories – long-serving audience or committee members

• Programmes, posters, and programme sponsorship • The accounts • Production and rehearsal photographs – audience photographs?

• Backstage - lighting plots

S H A R I N G YO U R HISTORIES Through formal publication

Through exhibitions at AGMs, socials,

Through online, searchable webpages

FURTHER RESOURCES A D V I C E F R O M TH E AM E R I C A N TH E ATR E ARCHIVE PROJECT H T T P : / / W W W.A M E R I C A N T H E ATR E A R C H I V E P R O J E C T.O R G / A N N C U RTH OYS AN D AN N M C G R ATH , H O W TO W R I T E H I S T O R Y T H A T P E O P L E W A N T TO R E A D ( P A L G R A V E , 2 0 1 1 )