Southampton Residents’ Life Stories Performed in Home Theatres

Residents in Southampton participated in a free arts project by volunteering their living rooms as venues for theatrical performances based on their personal experiences. A total of eleven households hosted producers and actors for these shows. These intimate theatrical productions, characterized as “kitchen sink dramas,” presented narratives such as a woman’s affection for the River Itchen and the experiences of university students confronting a lettings agency. Attendance at these performances varied, from 26 individuals to as few as two in one compact apartment. Kerry Kyriacos Michael MBE, the project leader and a theatre and film director, has previously organized similar “Home Theatre” events in Rio de Janeiro, London, Pretoria, and Dublin. He stated: “It’s taking the temperature of the city.” He added, “We developed it into making each house a 20-minute gift.” Michael further commented, “And the best gifts are what you think you want, but there’s a bit of a surprise to it.” Annie Sanger-Davies, a project producer affiliated with Southampton Solent University, assisted in interviewing the selected households to collect narrative material approximately one week prior to the performances. She remarked: “Having somebody sit with you and listen to your concerns… is an incredibly vulnerable but empowering experience.” Sanger-Davies also noted, “Everyone loved being in Southampton and had a real sense of belonging.” The students involved expressed enjoyment for their “positive” and “fascinating” story, which depicted them overcoming a figurative monster in their kitchen. Additionally, beekeeper Helen Ransome commended her own drama, which incorporated a mock game show titled The Germination Game. Funding for the project was secured via consolation funds, which resulted from Southampton’s unsuccessful application to be designated UK City of Culture 2025. The arts charity Southampton Forward stated that the initiative aimed to foster theatre, cultivate a network of local artists, and strengthen community bonds within the city. For updates, BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding the BBC’s policy on external linking is available.