Dear Sunderland

A live performance combining spoken word and music, sharing stories from real people across the city. Expect honesty, humour and heart.

Part of Sunderland: Our Home

If you could write a letter to Sunderland, what would you say?

Dear Sunderland is a powerful live performance bringing together spoken word and music to share stories from across the city. From children to elders, lifelong residents to new arrivals, this event celebrates the voices, memories and experiences that shape Sunderland today.

Expect surprising connections, differences of opinion, moments of pure joy and flashes of deep frustration (and yes, that includes the football). Above all, expect honesty, humour and heart.

Created with and inspired by people from across the city, Dear Sunderland is a celebration of community in all its complexity – the stories we carry, the places we love, and the conversations that bring us closer together.

Come along, listen in, and see Sunderland through someone else’s eyes.

Includes support from Miley Wardle and Chloe & Imogen.

Ticket price includes refreshments and a slice of pizza from Midnight Pizza Cru!

Created by Unfolding Theatre, commissioned by The Cultural Spring.

Created by Unfolding Theatre · Directed by Annie Rigby · Written by Ray Hopkins, Annie Rigby & Midge Ryall · Music by Ray Hopkins & A Band Like This · Story Collectors: Ray Hopkins, Joy Omotade & James Williams · Produced by Midge Ryall.

With enormous thanks to everyone who wrote letters at CFO Sunderland, Sunderland MIND, Sunderland Student Union, A Band Like This, Creative Sparks Culture Start Group in Sulgrave, Winnibell Family Hub, Friends of the Drop-In at Space 4 in Houghton-le-Spring and everyone who sent a letter online.

Photo credit: Mark Savage

This performance is part of The Cultural Spring's Sunderland: Our Home programme, bringing together a host of vibrant, eye-opening events made with and by the people of Sunderland, designed to open the door to everyone - whoever they are. Come and meet your fellow Mackems, hear new stories, share your own.

For more information on the Sunderland: Our Home programme, visit:

https://www.theculturalspring.org/community-cohesion-project

Funding for the Community Cohesion project has come from Sunderland City Council and the UK government through the Community Renewal Fund, and through Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places funding.

What counts as a concession?

We know there are plenty of reasons why many of us can't access high quality arts and culture, and we work hard to remove as many barriers as possible. Which is why we invite our audiences to self-identify which ticket type to buy. If you're able to afford the full price ticket, rest assured that every penny you spend goes back into providing arts and cultural opportunities for communities in Sunderland and South Tyneside.

If you worry you might struggle to pay full price, feel free to book a concessions ticket - no questions asked!

If any cost is a barrier, please reach out to us at info@theculturalspring.org.uk