Salt & Stone: Volunteer Call Out

Are you interested in local history and heritage?

Would you like to join a volunteer heritage team in Kent and learn new skills?

Salt and Stone is a community heritage project that captures the memories of life in Deal and Sandwich through traditional storytelling and archive-inspired film.

The project explores the cultural, social and historical connections between Deal and Sandwich – towns linked by the King Charles III England Coast Path. From Deal’s traditions of boatmen, naval life and seaside culture to Sandwich’s legacy as a mediaeval Cinque Port, each town offers distinct yet interconnected stories of maritime work and leisure.

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project will run from April to November 2026 in Deal and Sandwich, and volunteers will take part in the following activities:

Oral History and Reminiscence Training:

Learn new skills in creating interview questions and conducting oral history interviews, understand the ethical issues involved in recording people’s memories, and get hands-on experience using recording equipment.

Dates

28th or 29th April 2026 (half day in person)

12th May 2026 (2-hour session online)

Venues will be in Deal and Sandwich and confirmed nearer the time of the training workshops.

Reminiscence Workshops and Oral History recording dates :

Working alongside Digital Drama staff, volunteers will take part in reminiscence sessions within the community and help prepare and record oral history interviews.

Dates

21st May 2026 – Reminiscence workshops

4th & 18th June – Oral History recordings

Venues will be in Deal and Sandwich and confirmed nearer the time of the workshops.

Detail:

Travel expenses and refreshments will be provided on training, recording and reminiscence session days.

A certificate of participation will be awarded at the end of the project.

No previous experience needed

Interested?

Email info@digitaldrama.org to secure your place in the team.

By Kate Valentine|2026-03-26T14:46:38+00:0026 March 2026|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Immersive Audio Experience Tickets Go Live

Countdown to Crisis:

An immersive audio experience at York Cold War Bunker

DATE: Wed 29, Thu 30 and Fri 31 Oct 2025
TIME: 6pm and 7.30pm

LOCATION: York Cold War Bunker
SUITABLE FOR: Adults

In an alternative version of recent history, the UK finds itself involved in conflict with the Soviet Union, and the Prime Minister is faced with the most difficult of decisions.

Experience a real-life nuclear war gaming exercise undertaken by the British Government at the height of the Cold War in 1983.

This immersive audio experience invites you inside the Government Cabinet meetings to eavesdrop on these decisions and explores the roles of Royal Observer Corps civilian volunteers at York Bunker and the steps they would have taken at a time of national crisis.

Produced by Digital Drama as part of the project ‘Forewarned is Forearmed’ which commemorates 100 years since the founding of the Observer Corps, a nationwide community of civilian volunteers who monitored Britain’s skies for sign of attack

There will be two identical performances each evening: one at 6pm and one at 7.30pm.

There are limited seats available; booking in advance is required.

Click here to book tickets:

English Heritage Booking Page for Immersive Audio Experience

By Kate Valentine|2025-10-13T14:41:14+00:0013 October 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

VE Day Tea Party in Mitcham

Digital Drama hosted a VE Day Tea Party to commemorate the 80th anniversary of this momentous day for members of Age UK Merton.

Taking place at the Pawelek café at Canons House & Grounds, guests enjoyed sandwiches and cake while listening to Lucinda sing tunes of the 1940s.

The event was part of our VE Day, Memories of Peace project, which will continue into autumn 2025 with workshops, talks and a pop-up exhibition touring to Libraries around Merton.

The day was supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

By Kate Valentine|2025-05-19T13:42:07+00:0019 May 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

What the Sea Saw – call out for volunteers

‘What the Sea Saw’ celebrates the heritage of fishing along the North Yorkshire coast, particularly in communities in Scarborough and Staithes, and captures the memories of the fishing community from the 1950s to the present day. The project is being produced in partnership with the Staithes Museum and Heritage Trust and Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre. It will reflect fishing heritage in a series of activities and events in Scarborough and Staithes including a new short film about Staithes fishing families, an audio trail for Scarborough inspired by oral histories, workshops in local schools, and a final performance event, combining stories and sea shanties sung by local choirs, accompanied by fish and chips for the audience and participants.

Image courtesy of Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre

The project is being produced by Digital Drama and is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Digital Drama are doing a call-out for volunteers to get involved in the following:

– Receive online or in-person training in the curation and repurposing of oral histories to create new media, especially heritage trails in new year 2024

– Research existing oral history recordings to find appropriate material based on the lives of the fishing communities and customs in Scarborough to be used in an audio trail and performance event

– Possible volunteering in the commemorative event in Scarborough in November/December 2024 in research or performing or both!

Volunteer time:

– Commitment of total of 10 hours to include 2-hour training session

How to express interest:

Email:info@digitaldrama.org

By Kate Valentine|2024-01-24T11:54:24+00:0015 January 2024|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Little Manhattan Guided Walks and a Reminiscence Session

As part of the Little Manhattan Project, currently exhibiting at the Museum of Croydon, and supported by the This is Croydon programme, the following events will be running in the new year:

‘Postwar Architecture of Croydon’- Local Heritage Walk

This free architecture heritage walk, to be guided by local expert Lindsay Ould, will explore Croydon’s urban history and its iconic modernist buildings.

When:

Friday 19th January 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Wednesday 31st January 11.00am -1.00pm

Wednesday 14th February 11.00am -1.00pm

Book free tickets for one of the dates:https://bit.ly/croydonwalk

or sign up at the Research Room Reception desk

Meet: Outside the Research Room, Museum of Croydon, Katharine Street CR9 1ET

Reminiscence Workshop

The Little Manhattan Project reflects on the rebuilding of Croydon that took place between 1950-1975. Come and join us for a reminiscence workshop with refreshments at the Museum of Croydon Activity Space to explore photographs and objects of the time and share your memories of growing up in Croydon.

When: 2.30-4.00pm, Wednesday, 31st January 2024

Where: Museum of Croydon Activities Space

Book your place: email info@digitaldrama.org or sign up at the Research Room Reception desk.

London Borough of Culture is a Mayor of London initiative, with support from Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund. The This is Croydon programme is being delivered through a unique collaboration between the cultural organisations and people of the borough in partnership with Croydon Council.

By Kate Valentine|2023-12-19T15:14:26+00:0019 December 2023|Uncategorized|0 Comments