Dockyards, Demo’s & New Directions is an archive film and audio tour along England’s waterways, starting in Bristol, stopping in Gloucester, Nottingham, Sheffield and ending in Leeds. The project works with local people to explore pivotal moments of social and political change in their cities as seen in their city’s film archives, and in their own lived experiences.

Throughout November,December and into January Dockyards, Demo’s and New Directions will be screening before selected feature films at local independent cinemas in the chosen cities. Visit your local cinemas website via the links below to find out how you can watch.

Accompanying these screenings is an audio tour, including stories from local people speaking about their own personal memories of the city and its history. You can listen to these audio stories by scanning the QR Codes below.

BRISTOL

From the 2011 ‘No Tesco in Stokes Croft’ protests, to a tour around Bristol’s new housing developments with Tony Benn in 1959, all the way to the BLM protests of 2020, activism runs rife in the city of Bristol. IMAGE CREDIT: Undercurrents St Pauls

Find screening times

SCAN FOR AUDIO TOUR

GLOUCESTER

From trailblazing female farmers with their sheepdogs, to Gloucester carnival in the 1980s, these films show that even in difficult times there is a real sense of community and generosity in Gloucester. IMAGE CREDIT: Gloucester Carnival.

Find screening times at Guildhall

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LEEDS

From strikes in the 70s, to the demolition of the Quarry Hill flats and the redevelopment of Kirkgate market, this film charts the highs and lows of the city. Leeds is shown as a city of community, solidarity, and change. IMAGE CREDIT: Yorkshire Film Archives (YFA)

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SHEFFIELD

From the Peace March of 1936, and the Clarion Ramblers staking claim to Sheffield’s green space, to the changing face of the River Don and the wider city: the decline of industry and the rise of the Universities. IMAGE CREDIT: Yorkshire Film Archives (YFA)

Find screening times

SCAN FOR AUDIO TOUR

NOTTINGHAM

From the knitwear protests of 1981, to female union members leading the charge on rights for factory workers, Nottingham is a city where we are not afraid to make our views heard and advocate for change. IMAGE CREDIT: MACE Archive

Find screening times

SCAN FOR AUDIO TOUR

Local residents in the cities above have recorded their own responses to the films, and their personal memories of key locations in the city, to create a short audio tour now available to listen. 

The residents focused on the waterways as a site of political and social change, as well as a space for reflection, allowing them to think about moments in their own lives that correspond to the archive. They recorded their stories by the water, using the location as a muse and audio landscape. You can listen to them anywhere, but we recommend taking a stroll along the water, where you’ll pass some locations mentioned in the audio.

With thanks to the Canal and River Trust for facilitating the creation of these audio experiences by the water. 

Credits

This project is supported by Film Hub North with National Lottery funding on behalf of the BFI Film Audience Network. Dockyards, Demos and New Directions wouldn’t be possible without the help of our partners. We would like to extend a huge thank you to the following people and organisations;

Archives
Yorkshire Film Archives, Bristol Archives, The Box, Gloucestershire Archives, Media Archive for Central England

Partner Cinemas and Organisations
Watershed Bristol, Sherborne Cinema Gloucester, Gloucester Guildhall, Hyde Park Picture House Leeds, Nottingham Broadway, Showroom Cinema Sheffield

Heritage and Community Partners
Canal & Rivers Trust, Gloucester City Council, Chapel FM Arts Centre, City Voices and Gloucester History Festival, Gloucester Film Makers, Gloucester Civic Trust, Strike a Light, Leeds Museums, Walking Tours of Leeds, Canal Connections, City Arts, Nottingham City Council, Sheffield Museums Trust, Kelham Island Museum, Leeds City Council, Gloucester Carnival, Softdata Hosting

Compass Presents
This project was directed, managed and produced by; Tara Sachdeva, Charlie Harman, Celia Turley and Nia Evans
Audio Works created by Will Taylor

Also we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended one of our workshops and took part in the curation of the archive. Your stories are the beating heart of this project, thank you for sharing them with us.