Story-teller, author and playwright Richard O’Neill, and historian, author (The Northumbrians) and trustee of Beamish, Dan Jackson, talk about the rich history of story-telling and ‘having a crack’ in the North East. Both Dan’s family who were miners and Richard’s Romani Gypsy family, told stories to entertain each other and as a way of teaching and passing on knowledge of your family’s culture. Dan believes Geordie’s are ‘very well-drawn in the national consciousness’ due to their friendliness and story-telling.
They discuss the roots of the region’s pro-social culture. Including how the Durham miners put in place welfare systems long before the post-war Labour government: people had purposeful lives, full employment and there was a thriving social structure in mining communities. Together they talk about how a ‘constructive nostalgia’ could build on the region’s history and help tell the story of the north east’s present and its future. Richard talks about a Romani tradition of a trenora story which translates as ‘three time,’ one story can talk about the past, present and future. Both believe story-telling and the intimacy of convening to hear about each other’s lives could play a positive role amidst a mental health epidemic.
Forged in the North is funded by New Writing North and Durham Book Festival, with support from Durham County Council, Durham University and Arts Council England.
Produced by Hunter Charlton
Researched by Lucy Valance
Mixed and mastered by John Scott
An Ember Production.