This project, which set out to celebrate and record aspects of the history of East Lancashire by involving young people in capturing and recreating the reminiscences of older people, began with a pilot project in Pendle in March 2004, culminating in a shadow-puppet show presented by students at Mansfield High School.
In the summer, the project moved to Rossendale, where Esther Davies of 3DV Writers' Group and artist Kerris Casey St Pierre worked with Bacup Youth Theatre gathering tales and experiences from local people to create a show for a performance at Bacup Royal Court Theatre in June. This was a contemporary dance piece telling the story of Bacup, performed by students from Rossendale School of Dance and Drama with an original soundscape plus set and costumes by Horse and Bamboo Theatre. The piece was also performed at the Mid Pennine Gallery in Burnley during the exhibition ‘As If I Were A River’, by photographer Dinu Li.
In July 2004, stories and puppets from the Bacup ShadowLand project were exhibited and a performance by 3DV Writers’ Group took place at Haslingden Community Centre during the Rossendale Alive Festival.
Image: Shadowland
