listenupnorth

An extract from Janet MacLeod Trotter's novel No Greater Love set in the tumultuous times of the struggle for the emancipation of women. On the streets of Newcastle, working class Suffragette, Maggie Beaton, endures the taunts of the crowd. 

The ladies get together to plan a feast for Bert

The pupils of Year 6 at Wolsingham Primary School reacord each other as they talk about living in Weardale.  This podcast was produced as part of the 'We are Weardale' project sponsored by Durham County Council.

The pupils of Year 3 at Wolsingham Primary School record each other as they talk about living in Weardale. This podcast was produced as part of the 'We are Weardale' project sponsored by Durham County Council.

The pupils of St John's Chapel meet and record people from the local luncheon club. This podcast is part of the 'We are Weardale' project sponsored by Durhan County Council.

As part of their 140th anniversary, the pupils of St John's Chapel Primary School interview members of the community who have had past links with their school. This podcast was produced as part of the 'We are Weardale' project sponsored by Durham County Council.

To celebrate the 140th anniversary of St John's Chapel Primary School, pupils interview their teachers about their favourite memories of the school. The podcast was produced as part of the 'We are Weardale' project sponsored by Durham County Council.

Listen to the pupils of St John's Chapel Primary School record each other as they celebrate the 140th anniversary of the school.  They talk about their school and share their views on living in Weardale.  This podcast is part of the 'We are Weardale' project sponsored by Durham County Council

The children of Wearhead Primary Schhol and the North Pens adult writing group share their work inspired by Weardale and talk about their creative writing process. This podcast was part of the We are Weardale project sponsored by Durham County Council

Stories and poems from the Durham Coal Field.  Written and read by Easington Writers. Coal Dust in My Veins by Mary N Bell The First Shift by Rachael Hewitson-Dixon The Hawthorn Site by Brenda Graham Bevin Boys by Mary N Bell The Easington Pit Disaster 1951 by Brenda Graham The Stolen Man by Mavis Farrell Pit Strike 1984-1985  by Mary N Bell The Last Turn of the Wheel by Brenda Graham The Disaster...

Warm, honest and perceptive words from Tyneside poet Catherine Graham Wallflowers Making Clogs at Gallowgate Promise Things I Will Put in My Mother's Pocket Last Waltz

Frightened of hospitals? Listen to Roberta's mischievous tale. Written and recorded for the Crossing the Tees Festival at workshops led by writer Rachel Cochrane

A collection of three poems by Robert Lonsdale - sensitive, haunting and rhythmic Inside the Hermit The Extermination Watershed Summer 1979

Featuring the work of the late North East writer G.F. Phillips, a writer I first met and recorded through Keith Armstrong and Northern Voices Community projects.  This collection of Gordon's work was taken from recordings made for listenupnorth 2010-2013. I knew him as a gentle and perceptive man, drawing on astute and sensitive observations for his writing.  Through his work we often felt the raw...

Keith talks about his life as a writer - his influences, inspirations and work on Jack Common

Powerful and passionate words by poet Keith Armstrong inspired by his roots, his haunts, his Tyneside heroes. 

Poet Clare Crossman reads a selection of her poetry from The Shape of Us and talks about the inspiration behind it.  Clare also describes her work process and tells us about her projects.  Although Clare has now migrated southwards, much of her poetry are drawn from her Northern roots. Poems: Cartography Echo Eileen at Fifty Gravel Kind Home Life Nephews Northerners Portrait of My Father at 60

From the talented North Pens Writers: two very different short stories with intriguing titles and the common theme of social gatherings Mythconceptions by Jenny Spooner Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend? by Judy Goodwin

More tales and poetry from the Easington Writers' Group We're Not Dead Yet a poem by Terry Dobson The Slasher a short story by Mavis Farrell Fen's World a poem by Mavis Farrell Eating Jelly in the Welly a poem by Chris Robinson Innocence a short story by Agnes Frain

A seemingly respectable housewife, Liz, gathers the mundane village news for the down-at-heel editor of a local newspaper.  As the Editor desparately searches for a juicy story to boost readership, little does he know the less then respectable sources of Liz's news Cast Liz played by Rachel Cochrane The Editor played by Howard Haywood

When comfortably middle-class Elly befriends a writer on the run from her abusive partner, they have more in common than imagined. CAST Elly:                                Helen Morris Jo:                                  Sue Nicholson Marting & ex-husband:      John Woods Elly's Mother:                   Robin Piette Counsellor:                      Sue Hedworth Elly's father & Policeman:  Andre...

includes the following poems: Cheap Thrills Goblins January Blues Forty Years On Wishful Muffin the Tortoiseshell Cat

A short story by Northumberland writer Sue White set on the banks of the River Wear and recorded at a writing retreat run by Rachel Cochrane at Gibside National Trust, Rowlands Gill.  It was inspired by the radio play B enchmark written by Rachel Cochrane which is also available as a podcast on listenupnorth.    

A tribal bid for power by Coira, a Celtic Queen.  A tense and atmospheric story set almost 2000 years ago around the time of building Hadrian's Wall.  Recorded at Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum.

Writer Michael Baron reads a selection of his poems, with subjects ranging from Rita Hayworth to bats.  Recorded at Michaels' home in Cockermouth, Cumbria. Michael's Poems: Writing to Rita Diary Note Vol de Nuit What If They Were Larks Us