Children of the Mills

Children of the Mills was a multi media performance project involving over 200 children from schools local to the Derwent Valley Mills WHS.

The project aimed to take a child’s eye perspective on life in and around the mills during the industrial revolution and create three interlinked performances at three of the major sites in the valley – each part of the trilogy complete in itself and containing drama, video, dance and song.

Children from six Primary schools, worked intensively with artists for six weeks on ideas arising from personal and social stories of the children and families who worked at Arkwright’s mills and Willersley Castle, and created work with a partner school for the final public performance.

Children from Bonsall, Milford and Wirksworth Junior worked with writer and drama practitioner Andy Barrett and video practitioner Julian Hanby, and children from Belper Pottery, Lea, Matlock Bath and worked with choreographer Debi Hedderwick and folk musician Pete Castle.

The final stunning shows were performed in July 2004 at Masson Mill, Cromford Mill and Willersley Castle to enthusiastic audiences of over 500 people.

The project was conceived, developed and managed by Learning Through Arts, an arts and creative education organisation working with schools throughout Derbyshire.