What we do
We work with communities who share a common event, interest, occupation or location. We use the word community in its broadest meaning - a group of people connected by common experience. Whether rooted in work, leisure or a place, diverse individuals and their stories are brought together by shared history. Our aim is help people explore and record the lives, characters and events of their community through unique and dynamic performance, public engagement activities and live events.
The involvement of community members is absolutely core to the process. We research, listen to and digitally record their stories and using the transcript of those recordings and through writing workshops, help communities to create a performance piece to share with new audiences. We will lead participants through rehearsal to finished performance. There’s a place for everyone – onstage and behind the scenes. We perform in non-traditional venues – pubs, community halls, libraries. In this way, shared experience moves from story to stage and takes on new life as history in action.
If you're a member of a community with stories to tell, then why not get in touch and let History in Action help you bring your heritage to a wider audience.
Who we are
Trizia Wells
As an oral history specialist Trizia has helped a wide range of communities to record their stories and preserve them for future generations through exhibitions (Recovery? from Flanders to Afghanistan, Leeds Thackray, 2014), digital archives (Rugby League Cares 2017), publications,(Tales of Accrington Market 2018) and community performance (It's in the Blood! 2017). Trizia has researched and developed educational films and packages for all ages on subjects such as Partition, (Let's Go Yorkshire), Theatrical History (Heritage Quay, University of Huddersfield) and Industrial Heritage (Amazing Accrington film series). She’s worked closely with disabled veterans, Asian women's groups, people with dementia and their carers. Trizia's experience as an award winning access manager for a national museum is invaluable when it comes to working with sensitive topics and ensuring that everyone's voice is heard.
Mick Martin
Bradfordian Mick Martin has been writing for stage, television and radio since the early 90s, with commissions from Mind The Gap, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Hull Truck Theatre and Deptford Albany Theatres. Since 2007 he has also been one half of Bent Architect (Jude is the other half!) where his work includes Broken Time, about the birth of Rugby League - "a cracking play-nothing short of civil war in studs" (The Guardian), England Arise! about WW1 conscientious objectors and Women in Aktion, produced in partnership with the academic research department at the University of Leeds. Core to Mick's work is the involvement of all levels of the community whose story he is telling.
Jude Wright
Community artist, producer, director and fundraiser Jude is originally from Wakefield. She has worked for and with arts organisations in Yorkshire and across the country managing and delivering community based projects, including Northern Broadsides, Theatre Royal Wakefield, Arts at Dartington (Devon), Lawrence Batley Theatre, the WOW Festival and many more. She currently delivers a range of projects on behalf of the Peace Museum in Bradford, working creatively with young people and communities to find peaceful solutions to today's conflicts. She was also director and producer of Full English, a theatre show which won Best Production 2021 at the Asian Media Awards. Real stories from real people and bringing inspiring untold heritage to life are Jude's passions.