Documentary
The Box Oral History Project
The Box Oral History Project
The Box Oral History Project
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Year
2023
Year
2023
Year
2023
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Industry
History
Industry
History
Industry
History
Project Duration
5 weeks
Project Duration
5 weeks
Project Duration
5 weeks
Intro
Launched in September 2023, The Box Oral History Project was commissioned through the High Street Sparks programme, part of Plymouth’s High Street Heritage Action Zone. Led by The Hundred Hands, the project set out to collect, preserve, and share the personal stories of residents, shopkeepers, and community members who have witnessed the city centre’s transformation over the decades.
Objective
The aim was to capture Plymouth’s living memory and celebrate its post-war heritage by creating a permanent archive of interviews. By documenting the voices of those who have lived, worked, and shaped the high street, the project sought to honour local identity and provide a valuable educational resource for future generations.
Challenge
Oral history demands sensitivity, trust, and attention to detail. Interviews were conducted in places of personal significance, from family homes and places of work, to put participants at ease and preserve context. The challenge was to balance technical quality with the intimacy required to make contributors feel safe, respected, and heard.
Result
The project produced two short documentaries: one exploring the high street’s transformation and wartime legacy, and the other capturing the evolving narrative of nightlife. Interviewees included well-known business owners such as Larry Speare (carpets and beds) and John Lawson of Lawsons hardware, alongside a local photographer, an engineer, and a theatre runner. Together, their voices paint a vivid portrait of Plymouth’s resilience and character. The films now form part of The Box’s growing archive of civic memory.
Latest Projects
Documentary
The Box Oral History Project
The Box Oral History Project
The Box Oral History Project
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Year
2023
Year
2023
Year
2023
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Industry
History
Industry
History
Industry
History
Project Duration
5 weeks
Project Duration
5 weeks
Project Duration
5 weeks
Intro
Launched in September 2023, The Box Oral History Project was commissioned through the High Street Sparks programme, part of Plymouth’s High Street Heritage Action Zone. Led by The Hundred Hands, the project set out to collect, preserve, and share the personal stories of residents, shopkeepers, and community members who have witnessed the city centre’s transformation over the decades.
Objective
The aim was to capture Plymouth’s living memory and celebrate its post-war heritage by creating a permanent archive of interviews. By documenting the voices of those who have lived, worked, and shaped the high street, the project sought to honour local identity and provide a valuable educational resource for future generations.
Challenge
Oral history demands sensitivity, trust, and attention to detail. Interviews were conducted in places of personal significance, from family homes and places of work, to put participants at ease and preserve context. The challenge was to balance technical quality with the intimacy required to make contributors feel safe, respected, and heard.
Result
The project produced two short documentaries: one exploring the high street’s transformation and wartime legacy, and the other capturing the evolving narrative of nightlife. Interviewees included well-known business owners such as Larry Speare (carpets and beds) and John Lawson of Lawsons hardware, alongside a local photographer, an engineer, and a theatre runner. Together, their voices paint a vivid portrait of Plymouth’s resilience and character. The films now form part of The Box’s growing archive of civic memory.
Latest Projects
Documentary
The Box Oral History Project
The Box Oral History Project
The Box Oral History Project
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Two short documentaries preserving Plymouth’s high street and nightlife through stories from business owners, artists, and community figures.
Year
2023
Year
2023
Year
2023
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Client
The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art gallery and archive
Industry
History
Industry
History
Industry
History
Project Duration
5 weeks
Project Duration
5 weeks
Project Duration
5 weeks
Intro
Launched in September 2023, The Box Oral History Project was commissioned through the High Street Sparks programme, part of Plymouth’s High Street Heritage Action Zone. Led by The Hundred Hands, the project set out to collect, preserve, and share the personal stories of residents, shopkeepers, and community members who have witnessed the city centre’s transformation over the decades.
Objective
The aim was to capture Plymouth’s living memory and celebrate its post-war heritage by creating a permanent archive of interviews. By documenting the voices of those who have lived, worked, and shaped the high street, the project sought to honour local identity and provide a valuable educational resource for future generations.
Challenge
Oral history demands sensitivity, trust, and attention to detail. Interviews were conducted in places of personal significance, from family homes and places of work, to put participants at ease and preserve context. The challenge was to balance technical quality with the intimacy required to make contributors feel safe, respected, and heard.
Result
The project produced two short documentaries: one exploring the high street’s transformation and wartime legacy, and the other capturing the evolving narrative of nightlife. Interviewees included well-known business owners such as Larry Speare (carpets and beds) and John Lawson of Lawsons hardware, alongside a local photographer, an engineer, and a theatre runner. Together, their voices paint a vivid portrait of Plymouth’s resilience and character. The films now form part of The Box’s growing archive of civic memory.