New Theatre Project Uses Census Returns to Tell the Story of A City Through One Home

This month, residents across the UK will be asked to take part in the Census – the survey which has offered a snapshot of British society every ten years since 1801, and which is used to inform decisions on public services.

Census data is made public after 100 years when it also becomes an important primary resource for research by future generations.

This year’s Census will take place mostly online and researchers have been embracing creative methods to get the public engaged in this once-in-a-decade event, with a particular focus on access, inclusion and diversity.

Professor Krista Cowman, Professor of History at the University of Lincoln, UK, is leading ‘The Whispering House’ project that aims to capture the Census’ rich narrative potential to tell the story of a city through the case study of one house.

The innovative project, funded by The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in partnership with the Office for National Statistics and The National Archives, will see Professor Cowman work alongside playwright Bridget Foreman of the University of York and theatre director Damian Cruden.

The project will use theatre to reveal the stories of the residents of Tang Hall, York. Built on the site of an ancient forest, with evidence of human habitation going back to Roman times, today Tang Hall is a diverse and thriving community.

The residents have often faced challenges in accessing arts and culture, but this project rests on two-way public engagement, with the team working with the audience from the start, engaging them as co-producers and performers as well as observers.

Professor Cowman explains: “Census data gives intriguing snapshots of Britain’s recent past, rooted in the fabric of its built environment.

“We came up with the idea for this project during lockdown, when most of us were stuck at home, and it prompted us to think about the stories contained in the four walls of our houses.

“As a historian, I’m used to dealing very much with facts, but this project will allow us to use our imaginations, working alongside members of the local community to really bring its stories to life.”

To find out more about this year’s Census, visit https://census.gov.uk/.