Groups of Eastbourne residents and schoolchildren will be working together to create a unique board game involving dramatic performances about the history of the town since the Victorian era. The project, run by East Sussex social enterprise Act On It, has been made possible by a £28,900 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Those taking part will include pupils from Park Mead School and Shinewater School, older students from the area, members of the local Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, and volunteers from the local community.

Each group will focus on a particular heritage site in the town: the pier, the Old Town, the bandstand, the beach and the lawns, and will research key periods in history associated with each location; the Victorian era, Edwardian times, the 1920s and 30s, 1940s and 50s and the 1960s and 70s.

Local people will be encouraged to share memories and stories with the various groups, each of which will set up a ‘listening lounge’ to interest residents in helping with the research. In addition, a series of ‘discovery days’ will also be arranged to enable each of the five groups to visit the various sites of interest to gather further information.

Once collected this material will be used to create the game, dubbed A Stone’s Throw. The project culminates in a dramatised performance of the new game in March next year. All the participants in the project will be involved with each of the five groups having a game each. If questions asked about specific locations or historic events in the town cannot be answered a dramatic performance will be used to provide clues. A learning resource pack will also be created for use by local schools.

For Act On It, Helen Turner, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to create vocational learning opportunities using drama techniques to engage a wider audience.”

Commenting for the Heritage Lottery Fund, Head of HLF South East England, Stuart McLeod, said: “This is a fine opportunity for local people to become actively involved in delving into the history of their town by creating an original dramatic presentation that can be enjoyed by many more.”

Notes to editors

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. Since 1994 the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded over £378 million to more than 2,660 projects in South East England.

Further information

HLF Press Office: Phil Cooper on 07889 949 173 or
Vicky Wilford 020 7591 6046 / 07973 401937 or vickyw@hlf.org.uk

Helen Turner, Act On It on 01825 841297.