Woolwich Speaks
Our blood pulsates through the veins of this old town…
Discover a new epic poem about Woolwich via a colourful poetry street trail and online film this August. Pick up or download a map to follow the trail across the town’s streets and squares, watch the film and share your thoughts about the future of Woolwich using #WoolwichSpeaks on social media.
Explore the photo gallery here
Download the Poetry Trail Map here
Where: Woolwich High Street – start at Woolwich Arsenal Station
Date: 6 August – 5 September 2021
Time: All day
Tickets: FREE, just turn up
Map: Download your free map here or pick up a copy from Woolwich Centre Library
Access: All trail locations are wheelchair and pram accessible and the trail can be completed in your own time. An audio version of the poem is available below. If you require support to access the trail, email: [email protected]
Watch the Woolwich Speaks film here
Where: The Woolwich Big Screen, General Gordon Square, SE18 6PW
Date: 6 August – 5 September 2021
Time: 12.30pm and 4pm everyday
Tickets: FREE, just turn up
Online: Watch online here.
Access: Subtitles are available. If you require support to access the film, email: [email protected]
THE PROJECT
Woolwich Speaks is a community-led project celebrating the area’s street life and exploring its past, present and future through poetry, film and public art.
Initiated as a creative response to the high street, the project connected local artists with Woolwich residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rasheeda Page-Muir wrote the new Woolwich Epic poem after conducting life story interviews with locals ranging from community leaders and young people to business owners.
The poem personifies the town as a woman who has seen the many diverse stories, experiences, and lives that have contributed to the area’s identity. Residents and visitors are invited to experience the poem, trail and film and to share their thoughts on Woolwich’s future using #WoolwichSpeaks on social media.
THE FILM
A film of the poem was created by Joe Watkins with two local filmmakers, Salima Kamara and Riordan Tyler. It stars poet Rasheeda Page-Muir and Woolwich secondary school students. The film features local landmarks as well as archive footage, bringing together themes of community pride, challenges and activism.
THE POETRY TRAIL
The poetry trail was created by R.M. Sánchez-Camus with Rebecca Thomson for Applied Live Art Studios in collaboration with local participants. It takes the form of speech bubbles featuring fragments of the poem, their bright colours contrasting with the brick, stone and concrete of the urban environment.
The speech bubbles are up to two metres long and installed at different heights and scales. They suggest that the surrounding buildings are sharing their secrets, while also mimicking smart phone text conversations.
Woolwich Speaks is a community-led project commissioned by Royal Borough of Greenwich and produced by Poet in the City and RevolYOUtion. It launches the Woolwich High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme, supported by Historic England.
Project Team
Poet: Rasheeda Page-Muir
Artist: R.M. Sánchez-Camus with Rebecca Thomson for Applied Live Art Studios
Filmmaker: Joe Watkins with Salimara Kamara and Riordan Tyson
Producer: Bea Colley and Jasmine White for Poet in the City
Community Engagement Liaisons: Amy Tolu, Fawazat Adeyemo, Mya Jackman-Williams for RevolYOUtion
PR and Marketing: Jenny Stewart for Poet in the City
Thank you to all of the amazing #WoolwichSpeaks partners: Katrina Anderson, George Neris with ArtFix, Sosan Khalid, Jane Downes with GCDA, Pamela with Caribbean Social Forum, Bradley Hemmings with Greenwich & Docklands International Festival, Divine Mankumbani with Greenwich Young People’s Council, Woolwich DLR and TFL, Plumcroft Primary School, Tesco Extra Gordon Square, Woolwich Central Library, Bathway Theatre, Poundland, Bright House, Clockhouse Community Centre, Woolwich Works, Royal Arsenal Gatehouse.
FAQs
What do I need to experience Woolwich Speaks?
- To access the poetry trail, download the map here or pick up a copy at Woolwich Centre Library
- If you aren’t able to make it down to Woolwich you can watch a film of the poem here
- The poetry trail takes place outside, so please check the weather forecast and have suitable clothing and footwear
Does it cost anything to experience Woolwich Speaks?
- No! It is free, just turn up
How long does the Woolwich Speaks poetry trail take?
- The poetry trail is designed to last about an hour and a half. Download the map here to see the approximate times to walk to each location
How accessible is Woolwich Speaks?
- The poetry trail can be experienced at your own pace, you’re welcome to take a break at any point during the experience. The suggested route between 12 different locations is accessible to people using wheelchairs or prams
- You can read the poem on the speech bubbles in large font, or on the map
- Listen to an audio version of the poem whilst you visit the trail here
Can I take part in Woolwich Speaks if I can’t get to Woolwich?
- The poetry trail is a site-specific experience for Woolwich, however you can watch a film of the poem here
Who can I get in touch with if I want to talk to someone about Woolwich Speaks?
- Drop us a line at [email protected] with any further questions
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Rasheeda Page-Muir is a 23-year-old poet, public speaker, writer and community organiser from South East London. After serving as a member of the UK Youth Parliament for 2 years at 17 years old, she founded the organisation RevolYOUtion London providing a platform for young people to discuss social and political issues whilst also supporting new youth organisations in the area. Rasheeda has spoken on the world-renowned TEDx stage twice, discussing the importance of rap music, feminism and masculinity within contemporary culture. In 2018 she won the SOAS Social Activist of the Year Award.
RevolYOUtion London is a social enterprise designed to facilitate debate within communities, run for young people, by young people – will be leading the way, reaching and and talking to people and communities.
Applied Live Art Studios is a Social Practice Studio creating art works around co-authorship, collaboration, psychogeography, and wellbeing, set up by R.M. Sánchez-Camus. They create site-responsive works that activate dialogue, interaction, visual impact and community cohesion. No project of ours looks the same. A commitment to social engagement and site-specific work has led the studio to design and deliver a range of works such as outdoor performances, sound installations, audio walks, circus performances and immersive theatre. We have collaborated with Freedom Festival, Tate London, Artangel, People United, Wellcome Collection, the Horniman Museum and the Museum of London. www.appliedliveart.com
Joe Watkins is a filmmaker from South London, known for his social realism storytelling with his debut feature film ‘South Of The River’ a good example of this, released earlier this year it’s a dark comedy about life in South London in which he wrote, directed and starred in (now available on Amazon Prime). Together with long-term business partner Rupert Hopkins, they own and run Crixus Studios, a complex of film studios in Woolwich Dockyard, He is currently working on his second feature film and lives in the Borough of Greenwich with his wife and 1-year-old son.
Salima Kamara, is a South London based, Sierra Leonean filmmaker specialising in documentary. With a BA in Film at Bournemouth University, Salima has freelanced for 2 years with well-renowned group, M2K, at World of Dance Paris, to collaborating with award-winning director & writer for film & theatre, Lanre Maloulu.
Born and raised in South-East London, Riordan Tyson is a local filmmaker. An avid fan of cinema since childhood, Riordan studied in Canterbury Christ Church and then received further training with MAMA Youth Project as an Editor. He now works for his local community filming and editing cultural events, community groups and is involved in various artistic projects. He is currently based in Thamesmead.
