The rise of community spaces Men’s Sheds is explored in a performance combining theatre, movement and documentary
With upwards of 1200 Men’s Sheds currently operating in the UK, choreographer Tim Casson combines interviews with movement to celebrate the importance of these warm and lively community spaces, where men come together to make, repair and repurpose. Touring to 13 theatres and community spaces across England, Shed Stories highlights the joy and camaraderie of these shared spaces, especially for an ageing population. It explores how Men’s Sheds support mental health, tackle loneliness, and offer opportunities to swap woodwork skills, have a cup of tea, and create something useful for themselves and their communities. It’s been made using interviews with the people who attend and organise these community spaces across the country, whittled down from 24 hours of recordings. Set elements have been crafted by Tim’s dad, Alan Casson, in his own Men’s Shed. Intimately staged with audiences surrounding the performance, Shed Stories is a heartwarming, charming production about community, connection and the little things that keep us going.
The production follows Casson & Friend’s ethos of creating work that is people powered, interactive and joyful, reflecting and supporting communities. Shed Stories emerged from The Allotment Project and Preppers: The Show about the survival community. Tim holds a Guinness World Record for most choreographers on one piece of dance, the community sourced 152, created as part of ongoing project The Dance WE Made project, which has created over 130 dances in 10 countries since 2012. Tim’s previous work includes the Young Associates programme at Sadler’s Wells and Public Health England and Disney’s Train Like A Jedi programme to encourage fitness in young people.
Tim Casson said, “From the moment I heard about ‘Men’s Sheds’, I was excited by this growing phenomenon in the UK. The more I learnt about them, and through my interviews with ’shedders’ themselves from across the country, I started to see the amazing impact they had – not just on the people that attend, but the communities around them! We created Shed Stories to not only reflect these amazing spaces, but also to ask bigger questions around mental health, aging, communities, the joy of making and creating, what it means to be a man, and what’s the best biscuit?! The show is heartwarming, joyful, and packed full of timely themes presented through the unique and characterful lens of ‘Men’s Sheds’ – so there’s really something for everyone… and of course, dance!”
London Bubble, 3-5 Elephant Lane, London SE16 4JD from 22– 23 Oct. 7.30pm. £15.50
Booking: www.londonbubble.org.uk
Full tour details: https://www.cassonandfriends.com/sheds
