Midland Actors Theatre, UK
Our project was based in fact. A few years ago, two skeletons were uncovered in the Digbeth area of Birmingham. They dated from the medieval period.
There was a mystery about this discovery. How did they die? Why were they buried in unmarked graves?
We worked with groups of young people from local schools, to investigate this mystery - and come up with possible answers.
The project culminated in an exhibition at the Friends of the Earth building, which is located a stone's throw from where the skeletons were discovered.
Visitors were asked to imagine they were going to an actual archaeological dig site ( in the Friends of the Earth garden). They took part in a range of activities, and saw drama scenes showing how the people might have died.
Finally, the playwright David Calcutt took the young people's ideas, and created a new play, The Smith and the Lady, which was performed by a community cast, again in the Friends of the Earth garden.
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The project was devised in association with the local historian, Professor Carl Chinn.
PROJECT PLANNING
POINT OF CHANGE:
Discovery of skeletons dating back to medieval period
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