Excavate

20/10/2026

Really good first day in Burntwood yesterday visiting community groups, exploring potential performance spaces, and starting to gather stories. We've now come up with a name for the project (more later) which, over the next 20 months, will build to the creation of a spectacular performance, made by and with the people of Burntwood, bringing together the different communities that make up the town. It's going to be great fun.

Have you got ideas, stories or a passion for Burntwood’s history?
We’d love to hear from you! 👋

As part of the three-year Creative Burntwood project, we’re planning something special — our very own Community Production, celebrating the people, stories and creativity of Burntwood! ✨

Although the production is still a little way off, the planning is already beginning, and we want local people to help shape what it could become. 🛠

We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our Research Team. You could help us explore ideas, discover local stories, find out what matters to people in Burntwood and begin shaping a production that truly reflects our community. 🤝

You don’t need any previous experience — just curiosity, ideas and an interest in being part of something exciting! 😊

Whether you love theatre, enjoy meeting people, have a passion for local history or simply want to get involved in a creative community project, we’d love to hear from you. 💭

📍First meeting: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Venue: Chase Terrace Community Centre

Interested or just looking to find out more? Drop Denise an email: [email protected] 🖥

14/10/2026

Andy's 37th and final post in this long series examining the history and writing of the community play - https://thecommunityplaywright.substack.com/p/a-community-play-typology?r=77p1iw

09/10/2026

Andy's penultimate post about the history and writing of the community play gives an overview of where it started, what it has done, and where it has arrived - https://thecommunityplaywright.substack.com/p/the-story-of-the-community-play-text?r=77p1iw

05/10/2026

Andy's Substack on the history and writing of the community play has reached its concluding posts, starting here - https://thecommunityplaywright.substack.com/p/a-short-introduction-to-a-longer?r=77p1iw

29/09/2026

The Colwick Woods Audio Guide is now also available on Amazon Music.

A story-telling audio guide exploring the social and ecological history of Nottingham’s largest nature reserve and most important green space. Accompanying map available at excavate.org.uk/the-colwick-woods-audio-guide

28/09/2026

Andy's latest Substack looks at the 2023 Dorchester Community Play as an example of the power of a large cast play to re-present and interrogate what it means to live in a place-based community - https://thecommunityplaywright.substack.com/p/dorchester-keeps-going-spinning-the

25/09/2026

Andy's latest substack looks at a hugely exciting community play project for London, that sadly never quite made it - https://thecommunityplaywright.substack.com/p/and-the-old-generation-falls-away

21/09/2026

We're looking for 3 community performers to join the cast of a storytelling show for Sneinton in December (possibly January) based on memories and stories from Colwick Woods. Please email [email protected] if you want to know more.

17/09/2026

Really interesting meeting with partners in the UK and India as we all try and find a way of making a big new project happen. Fingers crossed!