It’s Curtain Up for Hawick’s Untold Stories.

A new project that will bring imagined stories inspired by Hawick’s history, heritage and people to the stage is launching in January.

‘Untold Stories’ is ten-week community theatre project let by Live Borders Arts & Creativity and Heart of Hawick where anyone with an interest in writing or acting will work with professional theatre makers to bring those stories to the stage.

Staff from Live Borders Museums, Galleries and Archives including The Heritage Hub and Textile Towerhouse will be joined by a local historian to spark creative ideas for writers to respond to.  Over the ten workshops people will be encouraged and supported to develop scripts or learn the basics of acting on the stage. The project will culminate will a performance in Heart of Hawick at the end of March.

Jason Moyes Head of Arts and Creativity at Live Borders said:

“We hope to reflect Hawick’s culture, history and heritage through a series of short plays and monologues based around the imagined stories of real people and real buildings in the town.”

In the initial weeks everyone will take part in light-hearted activities designed to build practical skills, confidence, and artistic vision, before working towards the final showcase of short performances — written, directed, and performed by the participants.

“You don’t need to have any experience of writing or acting and there’s no obligation to perform, but anyone from across the Borders is welcome to join us for what should be an interesting and creative way to stay active over the dark winter months.”

Participants will be encouraged and supported to dig into Live Borders vast archive and collections as part of their research. It’s hoped that stories can be drawn from the Scottish Borders Archive, a key source for over 800 years of documents and publications on every aspect of life in the Scottish Borders.

Shona Sinclair, Curator with Live Borders Museums said:

“Hawick holds a remarkable tapestry of stories, and those who take part will shape which voices and moments we bring to life”

“From the excitement of crowds awaiting the very first train at the newly built station, to the quiet conversations of German prisoners of war at Stobs Camp, from racing legend Jimmie Guthrie and his brother Archie tinkering over a racing bike in their garage or Tom Jenkins, Britain’s first black school teacher as he prepares for class — the town is rich with extraordinary snapshots of ordinary  and extraordinary lives.

Whether it’s the memories of mill workers in the 1980s, reflections on the closure of the railway in 1969, or recollections of recent floods and the resilience of the community, we’ll be uncovering history through living memory as well as imagining what those from ‘back then’ might think of Hawick today — how it has changed, and what threads of the past still run through it.”

The project has been made possible by Hawick Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS)

Stephanie Walker from the Hawick CARS Project Team said

“Untold Stories is a wonderful legacy project for the Hawick Conservation Regeneration Area Project. The education grant funding will provide unique opportunities to explore the rich heritage of Hawick.”