East Midlands Oral History Archive
Creative and performing arts
In the creative and performing arts theme, we have the following collections:
Centre for Indian Classical Dance (CICD)
This oral history collection comprises 44 interviews with individuals who engage with Indian classical dance and music, conducted between November 2011 and March 2012. Interviews focus on individual experiences of Indian classical dance and music in the UK today and across the world, with particular reference to their relationship with the Centre for Indian Classical Dance, Leicester.
Centre for Indian Classical Dance (CICD) Poshak Puralekh Project
This oral history collection comprises 7 interviews conducted by volunteers for the Poshak Puralekh project. The project celebrated the costumes amassed by the Centre for Indian Classical Dance in Leicester since its foundation by Nilima Devi MBE in 1981. Recordings feature interviews with Indian Classical Dance teachers and dancers who discuss their memories of productions and the importance of costume to cultural identity and heritage.
Father Used to Say
This oral history collection comprises 23 interviews with residents of Leicestershire conducted between 9 January and 24 February 2013 by Andrew Scattergood. They focus on the lives on people living in Leicestershire and the ‘heroes’ who have inspired them. These recordings helped Scattergood to write new songs, and create and perform a one-man show, also called 'Father Used to Say'.
Grantham Rock
This sound collection comprises 19 oral history interviews and seven radio programmes. The radio programmes features clips from the oral history interviews. The oral history interviews are divided into two sections: 11 interviews with people involved in the early Grantham Rock and Roll and Skiffle scene from the 1950s; and eight interviews with people involved with the railways in and around Grantham.
The Mike Brewer Collection
This collection comprises 32 recordings of National BBC Radio broadcasts and BBC Radio Leicester broadcasts, first aired between 1969 to 1972. Broadcasts feature the BBC Radio Leicester 'Audition' Programme, 'Poetry is for People' programme, and selected broadcasts from BBC Radio featuring the poetry of Philip Larkin, recorded by Michael Brewer.
The Orton Family Collection
- Not catalogued
Fourteen people who knew playwright Joe Orton recorded by author John Lahr in preparation for his biography of Joe Orton. These recordings are not catalogued but may be available for consultation by appointment.
Nottingham: the Queen of the Midlands
This collection comprises five soundscapes of the city of Nottingham recorded by Benjamin Felstead as part of his Masters creative portfolio. Soundscapes feature recordings from Nottingham Market Square, train station, Lace Market Square, and a Nottingham Forest football match.
Singing for Our Lives
This oral history collection comprises 42 interviews with members of various street choirs across the UK. The choirs interviewed were: Birmingham Clarion Singers, Cor Cochion, Cor Gobaith, Rise Up Singing, Liverpool Socialist Singers, Out Aloud, Protest in Harmony, Raised Voices, Red Leicester, Sheffield Socialist Choir, Strawberry Thieves and Velvet Fist. They discuss their background in music and politics; activism; influential music and politics; reasons for joining the choir; causes and events supported; favourite and least favourite songs; memorable moments; the Street Choirs Festival and Campaign Choirs Network; difference made by the choir; vision and hopes for the future of the choir and society.
The Tony Hancock Collection
This oral history collection comprises four interviews with people who knew the actor/comedian Tony Hancock during his career in the 1950s and 1960s.
Some of our larger collections feature recordings about the creative arts. For example, a recording of the artist Alan Parker is on our online collection, while an interview with Mick Jagger (uncatalogued) is available to listen to by appointment. Search the catalogue.