Out On An Island, which explores 100 years of LGBTQ+ history with an Isle of Wight, has received a £21,700 cash injection from Historic England for its LGBTQ+ working-class history celebration project. The project from StoneCrabs Theatre will shed light on the LGBTQ+ heritage of Union Street in Ryde
Out On An Island, which explores 100 years of LGBTQ+ history with an Isle of Wight, has received a £21,700 cash injection from Historic England for its LGBTQ+ working-class history celebration project.
The project from StoneCrabs Theatre will shed light on the LGBTQ+ heritage of Union Street in Ryde, Isle of Wight; its nightlife and community spaces that flourished during the 1980s and 1990s.
Participants will investigate venues such as Bar 74, Patsy’s, The Redan and Prince Consort, examining their role in supporting the local LGBTQ+ community in a close-knit coastal town.
Through panel discussions and workshops, older community members will share their first-hand experiences and stories of these spaces. The project will help shape creative responses which may include poetry nights, guided tours, and exhibitions as well as foster self-confidence and pride in place for LGBTQ+ people locally.
Franko Figueiredo, Artistic Director, and Caroline Diamond, Project Manager, StoneCrabs, said: “We’re excited to have Historic England’s support to explore the LGBTQ+ heritage of Ryde – ‘the town on the beach’.
“Our project will shine a light on stories that have often been overlooked, hidden or ignored.
“This is important to our community because it celebrates its involvement in shaping our collective memories and heritage.”
Lead Pic: Community Memory Quilt, photo by Sienna Miller
