Place Labs

Unfolding Theatre was commissioned by Northern Heartlands in 2024 to deliver a series of creative workshops to visitors at agricultural shows across Weardale.

The team delivered activities at Stanhope Show and Weardale Show, encouraging participants to create a 'Best in Show' rosette to award to their favourite thing, place or person within their local community. Oral responses were also recorded and the content uploaded to Living Archive to serve as a repository to inspire future creative commissions or projects about the area.

Place Lab is a project delivered by multiple partners: Durham County Council, Beamish Museum, The Bowes Museum, The Durham, No More Nowt (formerly East Durham Creates), The Forge, Northern Heartlands, Redhills and TIN Arts. 

Place Lab is a project focusing on using culture and creativity to drive positive change in local communities within County Durham, with a specific focus on Shildon & Weardale. It is part of the "Into the Light" Programme. The project aims to connect people, projects, and ideas through community-powered creativity, acting as a network of hubs across different locations.