Spoken word pieces by She Speaks UK poets

On Friday 9th October 2020 17:30 – 18:15 the live launch of
of ‘Tales of Derby Women Past’, spoken word pieces by She Speaks UK poets, took place. The event was created exclusively for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site online Discovery Days Festival 2020 .

Six poets working in collaboration with She Speaks UK, took inspiration from Derby’s rich heritage to create spoken word pieces that highlighted women’s stories from history.
Poets included: Suzanne Fraser-Martin, Camille McCawley, Sophie Sparham, Charlotte Lunn, Jenny Raynor and Aoife O’ Connor.

Each poet performed their new work in unique locations in Derby captured on film. These included: Derby Museums, Derby Cathedral, Darley Abbey, a Trent Barton Bus, Mr Grundy’s Tavern and Shining Cliff Woods near Ambergate. The launch was live-streamed on YouTube featuring Aoife O’ Connor and Dan Webber of She Speaks UK, presenting the 6 short films and answering questions submitted by viewers watching live.

You can view the recorded event, and the individual short films below:

Event recording

Women of the Valley by Aoife O’Connor

Mrs Gardener by Camille McCawley

Conductresses Fine Heroism by Charlotte Lunn

Walter Evans’ Workers Union by Sophie Sparham

The Ballad of Betty Kate by Suzanne Fraser-Martin

Aedificatrix by Jennifer Raynor

This commission is part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Great Place Scheme funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, produced by Beam.