Do you remember the Theatre Royal in Hanley (the City Centre)? Were you a Hanley Babe, or did you help backstage? If you have memories or photographs of the Theatre Royal you want to share with the Claybody Theatre, come to the Dipping House, 5 Spode Courtyard, Church Street, Stoke, on Wednesday, June 25, between 7pm and 8.30pm. All are welcome, and refreshments are provided.
“I enjoy history on every level imaginable, and this experience has only enhanced my adoration. This work experience was everything I hoped it would be and more, it showed me the ins and outs of running a history centre whilst giving me hands-on experience with actual artifacts and interacting with customers.”
Claybody Theatre has produced an original podcast about Stoke-on-Trent’s role in the birth of Northern Soul to celebrate our city’s centenary.
To discover Northern Soul at the Golden Torch in Tunstall during the 1960s, go to https://www.claybodytheatre.com/productions/audio/platform-no-1-a-claybody-original-podcast/
British Ceramics Biennial needs volunteers to help with the 2025 Biennial programme.
It is looking for creative individuals who love working with people and have a passion for clay and ceramics.
Becoming a volunteer will give you a unique insight into the world of ceramics. You will be part of a major international event that showcases the work of the world’s leading ceramic artists.
Many local history societies in Staffordshire and the Potteries have difficulty finding good speakers.
Staffordshire History Network can help to find them. The network has a list of all the speakers who have features in Speakers Corner, a section in its newsletter.
A copy of the list can be obtained from helen.johnson@staffordshire.gov.uk
Burslem-based Titanic Brewery is brewing a special ale in honour of the City of Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary.
Called the Centenary Anniversary Ale, the traditional amber ale will be on sale in public houses throughout the Potteries. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Lyn Sharp, visited the brewery recently.
During her visit, she said Stoke-on-Trent’s brewing heritage had played a proud role in the city’s first 100 years.
A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoons confirmed that all its public houses in Staffordshire would stock the ale.
“When I started working at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, I was given a tour of the stores and instantly spotted watercolours by the same artist, the Rev. John Louis Petit.”
The British Ceramics Biennial returns to the former Spode Works in Stoke in September. The event lasts for six weeks, from 6 September to 19 October.
Free exhibitions and talks will spotlight international contemporary ceramic artists and introduce new talent by drawing on Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial heritage.
The Biennial’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Clare Wood, says, “It is wonderful to be back at Spode.”
Since 2009, the British Ceramics Biennial has been helping to transform and regenerate Stoke-on-Trent. It uses artists’ commissions, learning, and community projects to achieve its vision of making change through clay.
North Staffordshire Heritage would like to celebrate the City of Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary by showing a series of film strips.
The film strips were made by local schools in 1960. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of the amalgamation of the six towns, which created the County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent.
We have the film strip, The Township of Tunstall, made by Highgate Secondary School. The filmstrips about Burslem, Hanley, Stoke-upon-Trent, Fenton and Longton are missing.
If you can help us trace them, please get in touch with northstaffordshireheritage@outlook.com
Victory From Home, How We Helped Win The War is a new exhibition at Newcastle’s Brampton Museum. The exhibition in the Spotlight Gallery marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 1945. It explores the contributions local people made to the Allies’ victory over the Axis powers. The exhibition remains open until September 16th. Admission is free.
North Staffordshire Heritage 