Unfinished Histories

Volunteers and Originators wanted to work on Unfinished Histories Company Links project supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, 2013

Please note all Volunteer positions have now been filled but we are always pleased to hear from those interested in participating in the project so please do get in touch. 

We are still anxious to make contact with company Originators:

If you were part of or helped set up a company that was part of the alternative theatre movement between c1968 and 1988 and you would like the work of that company documented as part of a new set of web pages we are developing AND your company had an association with Lambeth or Camden e.g you were based or performed there or the company worked in the local community, we would like to hear from you. Please check to see if your company name is on our Companies list:
www.unfinishedhistories.com/history/companies (If not please let us know!). Click on Foco Novo and Les Oeufs Malades to see examples of finished company web pages. 

You need to be prepared to work with a Volunteer we will assign to help assemble information and firsthand accounts of the work and working processes of your company and track down archive material to create a bespoke company web page. Volunteers will be trained in relevant skills. If you have archive material possibly scripts, posters, photos, flyers, reviews, which you are willing to loan us for our touring exhibition, Volunteers will work with you to identify suitable and representative material. All material will be securely displayed and looked after. 

We are also keen to identify archives in need of a safe long-term home to make sure this history and that of the alternative culture it formed part of are preserved. If you have such an archive we can advise on appropriate Collections with which to place it.

If you are interested in being one of the Originators on Unfinished Histories Company Links please email us at contact@unfinishedhistories.com

The Project
Working with volunteers, to create an exhibition, including posters, flyers, publicity, photos and other archive material, and audio/video archive footage on the alternative theatre movement of the 1960s to 1980s.
The project focuses on those companies linked to two key boroughs and their venues, Lambeth, home of Oval House theatre and Camden, base of Inter-Action, the Drill Hall and the Arts Lab Drury Lane amongst others.
The exhibition will be presented at Oval House in November 2013 as a central part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, as well as the Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre and at Kentish Town Community Centre along with a programme of talks, readings and other events.
Exhibition material will be drawn from research gathered by the volunteers to create a series of linked web pages, documenting in detail the work of selected alternative theatre companies who were based or worked in Lambeth and Camden, including history, genesis, personnel, shows, dates, first-hand accounts, location of any archive material, as well as selected images.
Crucially the material will be gathered and developed with those who were original Company founders. We are especially keen to contextualise the alternative theatre work within local alternative culture generally – such a housing co-ops, community print shops, food co-ops etc. Lambeth Archives are very keen to increase their holdings of material on this area locally.

Ongoing Unfinished Histories work – the work of Unfinished Histories is ongoing and there is much to be accomplished. For those interested in giving other volunteer support we have an enjoyable and challenging range of tasks on offer listed below. If you would like to undertake any of the following please contact us.

Interviews:

>Interviewing
>Video and audio recording
>Editing, copying to DVD, disc labelling and packaging
>Creating interview topic lists

Website:

>Managing the website
>Researching companies, venues, individuals, key events, organisations
>Writing up research for web pages
>Scanning images for web pages
>Following up copyright issues
>Responding to email correspondence

General:

>Fundraising
>Organising and staffing events
>Archiving assisting on documentation of archives

We are interested in hearing from people who have skills in the above areas and equally happy to hear from those who would like to learn on the job.