A one-of-a-kind theatrical experience inspired by Sunderland’s people and heritage is heading to New York.
Last year Public Record, commissioned and produced by National Theatre, Sunderland Culture and the Sunderland Empire, wowed packed audiences at The Fire Station.
The venue was transformed into a live recording studio for the show, which featured more than 100 local community members who joined forces with professional musicians and dancers to create a new album – a musical portrait of Sunderland and its people.
Director Emily Lim and co-director and choreographer Dan Canham developed the show for National Theatre alongside writer Stewart Pringle and Sunderland musician Ross Millard to develop Public Record.
Now Emily and Dan are working in New York City to develop a new version of the show, entitled Public Works.
As with the original Sunderland show, New Yorkers from all five boroughs are working together to create a live Public Works album, on stage and in real-time. Public Works is bringing together community members, musicians and dancers into a cast of more than 100 to capture how New York sings, moves and tells its own story.
Written by Lisa Sanaye Dring, with music by Michael Thurber, direction by Emily, and co-direction and choreography by Dan, this new production will be performed at New York’s Delacorte Theatre in September.
A subsequent album will be preserved by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The show will form part of New York’s Shakespeare for the City celebration.
Emily said: “Dan and I have been working hard on this for some time now and while it’s been quite a wild experience trying to make it happen across the other side of the pond, it’s proving a very wonderful process.
“Everyone is so excited about its potential to say something really important and meaningful about the community and values of New York. We’re thinking of the incredible Sunderland community all the time and cannot express enough how grateful, lucky and inspired we feel to be continuing this journey which we began with you all.”
Nick Malyan, Chief Executive at Sunderland Culture, said: “We’re thrilled that Public Record didn’t start and finish in Sunderland. It was a wonderfully warm, inspiring and moving production forged from the talents of Sunderland creatives and people living and working in our communities.
“Emily and Dan were a delight to work with, and we hope New York’s Public Works has the impact on audiences that Public Record did.”
Marie Nixon, Theatre Director at Sunderland Empire, added: “Public Record, and now Public Works could not have happened without the brilliant partnership between Sunderland Culture, National Theatre and the Empire.
“Public Record was evidence of a confident, ambitious city – and one now exporting culture to a global cultural hub.”
Public Record was part of National Theatre’s Public Acts programme, a nationwide community programme that created large-scale participatory theatre in partnership with local theatres and community organisations across England.
The Sunderland Public Record community performers were drawn from four groups: Back on the Map, Connect Company from Sunderland Empire, The Odyssey Alumni group and Sunderland Nigerian Family Group. The two ‘cameo’ groups involved were Dance JAM street dancers, led by Jennifer Oswald (aka Pinky), and the Young Musicians Project, led by Laura Brewis.