Crawley Stories – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we meet Oscar and Rob 

Oscar is 14 and goes to Hazelwick School and has lived in Crawley all his life. He is obsessed with trainers, as well as a massive Star Wars fan. He aspires to work in the film industry when he is older. 

Rob is a critically acclaimed director, dramaturg and facilitator. He is currently the Artistic Director for Theatre Centre, regularly teaches at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and works with the Institute of the Arts Barcelona. He is also chair of Savvy Theatre's board and governor of Addy and Stanhope Secondary School in Lewisham.

As they walk through Gratons Park they talk about lockdown, food and why people should be kinder. 

CREDITS

Crawley Stories - a Creative Crawley, Creative Playground and Theatre Centre production

Host - Rob Watt

Producer - Ben Di Meo

Executive Producers - Louise Blackwell, Sophie Eustace, Emma Rees 

Original Music - Brandon Knights

Editor - Zach Smithson

Edited at Gatwick Production Studios

Graphic Design - Ben Lintott

Filming - Nick Atkins, Megan Melloy

Film Trailer Editor - Nick Atkins

Runners - Shawwal Ali, Matthew Holmberg, Denis Fabian Ursache

With Thanks to: AFLO. the poet, Allan, Andy, Bonnie, Ceali, Ellee, Freya, Helen, Anna Howie, Iffat, Max, Oscar, Patience, Sarah Pimenta, Sam, Hazelwick School, Shannon, Karl Singporewala, Woodzy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creative Crawley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creative Director - Louise Blackwell 

Associate Director (Production) - Sam Evans 

Finance & Admin Coordinator - Lara Hockman 

Producer - Becky Jones 

Digital Content Coordinator - Ben Lintott 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creative Playground⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Engagement Manager - Erin Beesley 

Project Co-Director - Louise Blackwell 

Project Co-Director - Sophie Eustace

Head of Learning and Production - Sam Evans

Community Producer - Becky Jones 

Communication & Admin Assistant - Harriet McDermott 

Evaluation and Admin Assistant - Pav Randhawa 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theatre Centre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Marketing Manager - Rachel Bellman

Future Maker Producer - Ben Di Meo

Programme & Admin Co-ordinator - Becky Ide

Finance Manager - David Lewis

Community Partnerships Producer - Moni Onojeruo

Executive Director & CEO - Emma Rees

Artistic Director - Rob Watt

Funded by Arts Council England

In this episode, we meet Bonnie and AFLO. the Poet.

Bonnie is a year 9 student at Thomas Bennett School and has lived in Crawley her entire life. She shares her home with her mum and cares for three dogs and three cats. Bonnie enjoys listening to Drake, The Weekend, and Melanie Martinez. She describes herself as compassionate, creative, and ‘not dramatic at all’! 

AFLO. the poet (she/they) is an award-winning Brighton-based spoken word artist, activist and academic. They embrace creative expression to disrupt the status quo and inspire social change. AFLO. uses poetry as a vehicle to address hard-hitting topics, particularly racism and mental health. 

Bonnie takes AFLO on an adventure through Crawley town centre. From how amazing Toby Carvey’s roasts are to the importance of self-care - This is a joyous conversation. 

CREDITS

Crawley Stories - a Creative Crawley, Creative Playground and Theatre Centre production

Host - Rob Watt

Producer - Ben Di Meo

Executive Producers - Louise Blackwell, Sophie Eustace, Emma Rees 

Original Music - Brandon Knights

Editor - Zach Smithson

Edited at Gatwick Production Studios

Graphic Design - Ben Lintott

Filming - Nick Atkins, Megan Melloy

Film Trailer Editor - Nick Atkins

Runners - Shawwal Ali, Matthew Holmberg, Denis Fabian Ursache

With Thanks to: AFLO. the poet, Allan, Andy, Bonnie, Ceali, Ellee, Freya, Helen, Anna Howie, Iffat, Max, Oscar, Patience, Sarah Pimenta, Sam, Hazelwick School, Shannon, Karl Singporewala, Woodzy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Creative Crawley⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creative Director - Louise Blackwell 

Associate Director (Production) - Sam Evans 

Finance & Admin Coordinator - Lara Hockman 

Producer - Becky Jones 

Digital Content Coordinator - Ben Lintott 

⁠⁠⁠⁠Creative Playground⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Engagement Manager - Erin Beesley 

Project Co-Director - Louise Blackwell 

Project Co-Director - Sophie Eustace

Head of Learning and Production - Sam Evans

Community Producer - Becky Jones 

Communication & Admin Assistant - Harriet McDermott 

Evaluation and Admin Assistant - Pav Randhawa 

⁠⁠⁠⁠Theatre Centre⁠⁠⁠⁠

Marketing Manager - Rachel Bellman

Future Maker Producer - Ben Di Meo

Programme & Admin Co-ordinator - Becky Ide

Finance Manager - David Lewis

Community Partnerships Producer - Moni Onojeruo

Executive Director & CEO - Emma Rees

Artistic Director - Rob Watt

Funded by Arts Council England

This season we are in Crawley, in West Sussex, England. A new town that was created in 1947, merging the villages of Three Bridges and Ifield with the small market town of Crawley filling in the gaps.

In this episode, we meet Max and Karl.

Max is 12 years old and has lived in Crawley for most of his life. He describes himself as funny, talkative and a tree climber. He loves eating crackers dipped in gravy, which he says is a lot nicer than it sounds.

Karl Singporewala is an artist and architect who was born in Crawley. He has a lifetime honour from the Royal West of England Academy of Art and has worked on multiple published and award-winning residential and cultural projects both in the UK and throughout Europe. 

We meet Max and Karl in Tilgate Park in the south of Crawley. Max is keen to show Karl the wonders of the park while talking about life and death in the most beautiful way. 

CREDITS

Crawley Stories - a Creative Crawley, Creative Playground and Theatre Centre production

Host - Rob Watt

Producer - Ben Di Meo

Executive Producers - Louise Blackwell, Sophie Eustace, Emma Rees 

Original Music - Brandon Knights

Editor - Zach Smithson

Edited at Gatwick Production Studios

Graphic Design - Ben Lintott

Filming - Nick Atkins, Megan Melloy

Film Trailer Editor - Nick Atkins

Runners - Shawwal Ali, Matthew Holmberg, Denis Fabian Ursache

With Thanks to: AFLO. the poet, Allan, Andy, Bonnie, Ceali, Ellee, Freya, Helen, Anna Howie, Iffat, Max, Oscar, Patience, Sarah Pimenta, Sam, Hazelwick School, Shannon, Karl Singporewala, Woodzy.

⁠⁠⁠Creative Crawley⁠⁠⁠

Creative Director - Louise Blackwell 

Associate Director (Production) - Sam Evans 

Finance & Admin Coordinator - Lara Hockman 

Producer - Becky Jones 

Digital Content Coordinator - Ben Lintott 

⁠⁠⁠Creative Playground⁠⁠⁠

Community Engagement Manager - Erin Beesley 

Project Co-Director - Louise Blackwell 

Project Co-Director - Sophie Eustace

Head of Learning and Production - Sam Evans

Community Producer - Becky Jones 

Communication & Admin Assistant - Harriet McDermott 

Evaluation and Admin Assistant - Pav Randhawa 

⁠⁠⁠Theatre Centre⁠⁠⁠

Marketing Manager - Rachel Bellman

Future Maker Producer - Ben Di Meo

Programme & Admin Co-ordinator - Becky Ide

Finance Manager - David Lewis

Community Partnerships Producer - Moni Onojeruo

Executive Director & CEO - Emma Rees

Artistic Director - Rob Watt

Funded by Arts Council England

This season we are in Crawley, in West Sussex, England. A new town that was created in 1947, merging the villages of Three Bridges and Ifield with the small market town of Crawley filling in the gaps.

In October 2023 we asked six local teenagers to take six local artists on a walk with them through Crawley. From their walk to school, the places they hang out, where they go to for some peace, and the places they feel most alive and connected. These journeys have unearthed how they feel about Crawley and the world around them, their hopes, and what is important to them. 

In this episode, we meet Ellee & Sarah.

Ellee is in Year 9 and a student at Thomas Bennett Community College. She describes herself as silly, mischievous, and shy. She is a superfan of Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown and Pedro Pascal.

Sarah Pimenta is an experienced participatory artist, lecturer and creative facilitator. Sarah is known as ‘Social Fabric’ where she makes collaborative narrative textile pieces which tell a story – She has also illustrated a series of six children’s books ‘The Therapeutic Fairy Tale series’ 

This is a gorgeous and gentle amble through nature where Ellee and Sarah discuss Stranger Things, the personalities of trees and the current cost of living crisis. 

Places and artists mentioned:

Buchan Park

Social Fabric

CREDITS

Crawley Stories - a Creative Crawley, Creative Playground and Theatre Centre production

Host - Rob Watt

Producer - Ben Di Meo

Executive Producers - Louise Blackwell, Sophie Eustace, Emma Rees 

Original Music - Brandon Knights

Editor - Zach Smithson

Edited at Gatwick Production Studios

Graphic Design - Ben Lintott

Filming - Nick Atkins, Megan Melloy

Film Trailer Editor - Nick Atkins

Runners - Shawwal Ali, Matthew Holmberg, Denis Fabian Ursache

With Thanks to: AFLO. the poet, Allan, Andy, Bonnie, Ceali, Ellee, Freya, Helen, Anna Howie, Iffat, Max, Oscar, Patience, Sarah Pimenta, Sam, Hazelwick School, Shannon, Karl Singporewala, Woodzy.

⁠Creative Crawley⁠

Creative Director - Louise Blackwell 

Associate Director (Production) - Sam Evans 

Finance & Admin Coordinator - Lara Hockman 

Producer - Becky Jones 

Digital Content Coordinator - Ben Lintott 

⁠Creative Playground⁠

Community Engagement Manager - Erin Beesley 

Project Co-Director - Louise Blackwell 

Project Co-Director - Sophie Eustace

Head of Learning and Production - Sam Evans

Community Producer - Becky Jones 

Communication & Admin Assistant - Harriet McDermott 

Evaluation and Admin Assistant - Pav Randhawa 

⁠Theatre Centre⁠

Marketing Manager - Rachel Bellman

Future Maker Producer - Ben Di Meo

Programme & Admin Co-ordinator - Becky Ide

Finance Manager - David Lewis

Community Partnerships Producer - Moni Onojeruo

Executive Director & CEO - Emma Rees

Artistic Director - Rob Watt

Funded by Arts Council England

This season we are in Crawley, in West Sussex, England. A new town that was created in 1947, merging the villages of Three Bridges and Ifield with the small market town of Crawley filling in the gaps.

In October 2023 we asked six local teenagers to take six local artists on a walk with them through Crawley. From their walk to school, the places they hang out, where they go to for some peace, and the places they feel most alive and connected. These journeys have unearthed how they feel about Crawley and the world around them, their hopes, and what is important to them. 

In this episode, we meet… Patience & Woodzy. Patience is 19 has lived in Crawley for most of her life and has an affinity with elegant eyelashes, helping people and the power of nature. 

Woodzy is an award-winning Flo Poet, 2x TEDx Speaker and winner of UK unsigned 2019. As seen on BAFTA winning TV show Life And Rhymes, and also on Sky Sports Fight Night Live at Wembley Arena.

We join Patience and Woodzy near Broadfield Library where they talk about how important Crawlery is to them, a little lesson in RAP and they even save a pigeon.

Places and artists mentioned:

Bucham Park

WOODZY

CREDITS

Crawley Stories - a Creative Crawley, Creative Playground and Theatre Centre production

Host - Rob Watt

Producer - Ben Di Meo

Executive Producers - Louise Blackwell, Sophie Eustace, Emma Rees 

Original Music - Brandon Knights

Editor - Zach Smithson

Edited at Gatwick Production Studios

Graphic Design - Ben Lintott

Filming - Nick Atkins, Megan Melloy

Film Trailer Editor - Nick Atkins

Runners - Shawwal Ali, Matthew Holmberg, Denis Fabian Ursache

With Thanks to: AFLO. the poet, Allan, Andy, Bonnie, Ceali, Ellee, Freya, Helen, Anna Howie, Iffat, Max, Oscar, Patience, Sarah Pimenta, Sam, Hazelwick School, Shannon, Karl Singporewala, Woodzy.

⁠Creative Crawley⁠

Creative Director - Louise Blackwell 

Associate Director (Production) - Sam Evans 

Finance & Admin Coordinator - Lara Hockman 

Producer - Becky Jones 

Digital Content Coordinator - Ben Lintott 

⁠Creative Playground⁠

Community Engagement Manager - Erin Beesley 

Project Co-Director - Louise Blackwell 

Project Co-Director - Sophie Eustace

Head of Learning and Production - Sam Evans

Community Producer - Becky Jones 

Communication & Admin Assistant - Harriet McDermott 

Evaluation and Admin Assistant - Pav Randhawa 

⁠Theatre Centre⁠

Marketing Manager - Rachel Bellman

Future Maker Producer - Ben Di Meo

Programme & Admin Co-ordinator - Becky Ide

Finance Manager - David Lewis

Community Partnerships Producer - Moni Onojeruo

Executive Director & CEO - Emma Rees

Artistic Director - Rob Watt

Funded by Arts Council England

Episode 1: Iffat & Anna

This season we are in Crawley, in West Sussex, England. A new town was created in 1947, merging the villages of Three Bridges and Ifield with the small market town of Crawley filling in the gaps.

In October 2023 we asked six local teenagers to take six local artists on a walk with them through Crawley. From their walk to school, the places they hang out, where they go to for some peace, and the places they feel most alive and connected. These journeys have unearthed how they feel about Crawley and the world around them, their hopes, and what is important to them. 

In this episode, we meet Iffat and Anna. 

Iffat is 18 and has lived in Crawley most of her life. She describes herself as vocal, distinctive, and energetic. Iffat is a spoken word artist, who has been writing since she was 14 years old and covers topics such as growing up, immigration, and identity. 

Anna worked as a session singer and backing vocalist for 25 years during which time did live Radio 2 sessions with Brian May.  Anna's first solo EP An Idiot’s Guide to Love recorded in 2019 in Nashville and produced by Grammy Award Winner Bob Britt went straight to Number 5 in the UK country charts. 

Iffat takes Anna on a journey exploring spoken word in Crawley, discussing challenges faced by teenagers in the social media era; Americana music; and the role of young voices in driving change. 

Places and artists mentioned:

Crawley High Street

Crawley WordFest

Queen Square

Memorial Gardens

Crawley Library

Anna Howie

CREDITS

Crawley Stories - a Creative Crawley, Creative Playground and Theatre Centre production

Host - Rob Watt

Producer - Ben Di Meo

Executive Producers - Louise Blackwell, Sophie Eustace, Emma Rees 

Original Music - Brandon Knights

Editor - Zach Smithson

Edited at Gatwick Production Studios

Graphic Design - Ben Lintott

Filming - Nick Atkins, Megan Melloy

Film Trailer Editor - Nick Atkins

Runners - Shawwal Ali, Matthew Holmberg, Denis Fabian Ursache

With Thanks to: AFLO. the poet, Allan, Andy, Bonnie, Ceali, Ellee, Freya, Helen, Anna Howie, Iffat, Max, Oscar, Patience, Sarah Pimenta, Sam, Hazelwick School, Shannon, Karl Singporewala, Woodzy.

Creative Crawley

Creative Director - Louise Blackwell 

Associate Director (Production) - Sam Evans 

Finance & Admin Coordinator - Lara Hockman 

Producer - Becky Jones 

Digital Content Coordinator - Ben Lintott 

Creative Playground

Community Engagement Manager - Erin Beesley 

Project Co-Director - Louise Blackwell 

Project Co-Director - Sophie Eustace

Head of Learning and Production - Sam Evans

Community Producer - Becky Jones 

Communication & Admin Assistant - Harriet McDermott 

Evaluation and Admin Assistant - Pav Randhawa 

Theatre Centre

Marketing Manager - Rachel Bellman

Future Maker Producer - Ben Di Meo

Programme & Admin Co-ordinator - Becky Ide

Finance Manager - David Lewis

Community Partnerships Producer - Moni Onojeruo

Executive Director & CEO - Emma Rees

Artistic Director - Rob Watt

Funded by Arts Council England

Local Voices, Global Perspectives

Celebrating the talent and creativity of young people in Crawley, Crawley Stories is a series of six podcast episodes made in collaboration between local teenagers and professional artists.

Crawley Stories explores young people’s thoughts, feelings and memories of their local area as they take artists on physical journeys around their hometown of Crawley. Encompassing everything from their walk to school, the places they hang out, where they go to for some peace, and the places they feel most alive and connected, these journeys have unearthed how they feel about Crawley and the world around them, their hopes, and what they feel is important.

Crawley Stories launches on 9th November, with episodes released weekly.