A young couple from Northumberland with artistic skills as diverse as dance and circus performance have teamed up to document life in Newcastle and they need the help of ordinary people with stories to tell.
Dance and fitness teacher Catherine Muckle (25) and Circus artist and teacher Ross Taylor (25) from Cramlington have received funding from The Sunday for Sammy Trust to help them create a short film with the people of Newcastle telling their stories. The film is part two of a trilogy that has already featured Catherine dancing in the city and part three will focus on places within Newcastle.
Catherine studied dance at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and after graduating returned to the North East where she has worked on a number of projects including a dance performance with Kelly Abbott Dance Theatre with Newcastle based artist Alexander Millar which brought his “gadgies” to life and a short film with Hartlepool videographer Jacob Garthwaite.
Ross studied circus skills at Circomedia in Bristol and now works for Circus Central, a Circus School which operates from an old church in Shieldfield.
As Catherine explains, the Sunday for Sammy backed film with the working title “Tyneside Stories” will feature ordinary people who have a connection with Newcastle.
“There are lots of different types of people in Newcastle all with stories to tell. It’s a beautiful place with an abundance of culture and what makes it even more alive is the people who live, work and visit the city.
“We want to find these stories and document them for everyone to share. They can be sad, happy, serious or fun. We are especially keen to hear from the older generation as they will have stories from the past that otherwise would be forgotten. Everyone will have a different story to tell,” said Catherine.
Tim Healy ,Chairman of The Sunday For Sammy Trust said, “We’ve all known people who have done amazing things but rarely talk about it. Tyneside Tales aims to collect some of the region’s little known but remarkable stories before it’s too late to share. This fabulous project will bring a lot of people’s stories alive and preserve them for generations to come. We’re delighted to be able to help Catherine and Ross with some of the expenses for the project.”
The film will be premiered at Newcastle’s Settle Down Café in early January.
(61-62 Thornton Street, NE1 4AW)
It will be made by Hartlepool film maker Jacob Garthwaite and Dominique Aquino
If you have a story to tell contact Catherine on 07740 170132