Shine On

Pam Wilson has been an actor since the age of four. She saw a production of Pygmalion as a young woman and joined Leeds Arts Centre. Since then she’s appeared in countless productions in the city and beyond. Jaspreet Mander met Pam to find out what motivates her and why she continues to get on stage, both as an amateur with LAC and professionally with her theatre company, “Moveable Feast”. 

A round-table conversation with a group of people who found punk in the 1970s and never looked back. Janet, Beverley, Mark and Alison joined Shine On producer Tom Bailey in the studio to talk about how punk changed their lives, got them into politics and made them who they are today. 

A behind-the-scenes look at Sunny Bank Mills Gallery in Farsley.  We meet to Anna Turzynski, the arts director at the gallery to find out more about this unique creative space. Podcast regulars Kath and Ruth were invited to the opening of a new exhibition called Ones to Watch and they spoke to producer Tom Bailey about what they thought of the show and of the gallery itself. 

A behind-the-scenes look at Holdfast Leeds, one of the most unusual bookshops in the country: it’s on a boat. Lorraine Harding meets Victoria and Chris Bonner, who opened Holdfast in 2022. Victoria talks about how the bookshop came about and why she’s always loved literature; and Chris gives Lorraine and producer Tom a guided tour of the barge. 

Marilyn Harbage is the director of Feeling Good Theatre Company, whose members are all over 55. Feeling Good started some years ago and continues to offer older people the chance to make their own work in a supportive, collaborative group. Lorraine Harding met Marilyn at the Playhouse to discover more about Feeling Good and to talk about why she remains passionate about theatre. 

A round table conversation with a group of musicians of different ages. We’re joined in the Chapel FM studio by Roger, Pop, Andy and Pete to talk about their inspirations, how they write songs and what the generations can learn from each other. 

Barbara Malthouse is one of the original members of Heydays, the group for older creative people at Leeds Playhouse. She started at Heydays in 1990 and she’s still here all these years later. Pop met Barbara to find out why being creative is so important to her and what older people can still get out of coming to Heydays. 

Marg Greenwood is a writer and musician who has a particular affinity with the Scottish islands of the Hebrides. In her book “Return to Muck”, Marg describes how her experiences with the people of the islands inspires her poetry and songs – and how she inspires others. Mally Harvey met Marg at a recent Shine On live broadcast at Chapel FM to find out more.

Clem Archibald is a self-taught painter in his 70s who has made art for most of his life. He was born in St Kitts but at the age of 7 he was brought to the UK. Though he grew up in Leeds, he never forgot the Caribbean skies and palm trees. These landscapes feature in the paintings at a recent exhibition at Aire Place Studios, “The Agency of Realised Worlds.” Angie Smiles visited Clem at his home alongside Shine On producer Lily. This wide ranging and informal conversation touches on Clem’s early life, how he encountered racism and his experiences as a painter.

Pat Hunter was one of the original founders of Seven Arts, a thriving arts venue in the heart of Chapel Allerton. She continues to volunteer at the venue to this day. Judy Wild met Pat in the events space at Seven to talk about the origins of the project, how it has evolved and why creativity is important.