What’s In Store – Wednesbury
Celebrating Wednesbury with music, theatre and poetry
What’s In Store brought two days of brilliant live poetry, music, theatre and street performances to independent shops and market stalls in Wednesbury town centre. Performances took place across 23rd and 24th September 2022, and included both existing work and new site-specific commissions inspired by local stories. The event celebrated Wednesbury’s community and the independent businesses at the heart of it.
In the Shops & Market Place
During September, local artists took up residence in shops and around the town centre, and developed short performances based on stories gathered from business owners, customers and the people who work and shop in Wednesbury.
Suzan Spence – Mamma’sL Cakes, Lower High Street
Writer, poet and actor Suzan Spence’s performance was inspired by staff and customers at the wonderful Mamma’s L Cakes.
Lorna Meehan – Allsorts, Union Street.
In a treasure trove of ribbons, buttons and wool, Lorna wove stories of her crafty past with that of the shop and its loyal customers. She fused spoken word, poetry and music, and showed us exactly what makes Allsorts an integral part of the Wednesbury community and just how important it is to let the world see what you’ve made.
Welcome To Wednesbury – Market Place
Wednesbury’s very own poet laureate, Brendan Hawthorne, performed new work inspired by workshops and conversations with people in Wednesbury. He was based in one of the brand new market stalls where people were able to see poems written by visiting poet Bohdan Piasecki and local people from Wednesbury as well as watch Brendan perform his own work.
What’s In Store Walking Tour (with live music)
What’s In Store Walking Tour (with live music)
Vimal Korpal and musician Derek Nisbet took us on a journey to some of the fantastic independent businesses throughout the town, giving us a new insight into the people and the stories at the heart of this local community.
Special Activities for Families
‘Is that a Yeti, Hetty?’ By Crow’s Nest Theatre – Market Place
When your windows need a clean, you cover them in soap and squeegee them. But these window cleaners know the soap suds have more to say. Every window tells a story and this window has an exciting snowy adventure written all over it.
Is That A Yeti Hetty? is a live-illustrated storytelling show for families, about a child on a quest to convince her nay-sayers that yetis really do exist. Will Hetty’s Himalayan efforts prove that this abominable stranger is just like the rest of us – and might this just be a window on a more tolerant society?
Ben Cornish Street Juggler
The wonderful Ben Cornish juggled his way around the town centre. A one man circus, comedy, cabaret show that was perfect for family audiences. Juggling, balancing, spinning, audience participation and a hint of danger. Ben’s many years experience guaranteed that everyone who watched was transfixed by skills one minute and doubled up with laughter the next.
Rainbow Faces, Face Painting – Market Place
Professional face painters adorned faces throughout the day!
On the Street
Top Bananas
The Top Bananas play music on stilts! The band is all about fun and played a selection of Jazz, Funk, Disco, Ska, Pop and children’s classics.
Lollipop Patrol by Curious Cargo
With excessive enthusiasm and a slippery grip on reality, the Lollipop Patrol is here to help and hinder in equal measure. These two are full of self-importance and will take any opportunity to escort an unsuspecting passer-by or bring things to a standstill in order to form a safe walkway. They were hilarious and went down a treat!
What’s In Store Evaluation Report
Read or download the report: What’s In Store Evaluation Report (PDF)
What’s in Store is brought to you by Black Country Touring as part of the We Are Wednesbury cultural programme that is being delivered by Multistory and community partners through the High Streets Heritage Action Zones scheme, funded by Sandwell Council and Historic England.
Photographs © Phillip Parnell, 2022.
