Millfield of Dreams: A Co-Creation Case Study

Co-creation, participation, creative people and places, community engagement, socially engaged practice, film

Bring your lunch, join us online, and hear about the journey and learning of one of our favourite projects, Millfield of Dreams by Mark Murphy.

What to Expect

How do you create top quality art, with meaningful involvement from communities, when people are stretched for time? How does art shine a light on people and places in an authentic way, where they become the stars of the show?

Join Mark Murphy (Artist) and Charley Genever (Community Producer, Peterborough Presents) and Simon Martin (Headteacher, Gladstone Primary Academy) in conversation about the journey and learning from Millfield of Dreams. This talk will be an honest insight into the realities of co-creating a short film which has been hailed as “a love letter to Millfield”, “amazing, world class”, and “a ******* brilliant film!!” by participants, residents, and stakeholders.

By constructing an artistic framework that allows for a completely unique and bespoke production, completely shaped by people and place, Millfield of Dreams enabled residents of all ages, backgrounds, nationalities, and busy life stuff, an equal opportunity to be involved.

As well as discuss the learning, successes and challenges, Mark,Charley and Simon will discuss what next for both the film, the framework, and implementing the lessons learnt during the project.

This event is perfect for Creative People & Places, NPOs, LCEPs, Cultural Compacts, and any arts workers or organisations who work in a place-based, co-creation, or community engagement way. We hope you’ll come away feeling inspired, armed with some tips and tricks to support your own co-creation, and perhaps inspired to commission your own co-created film project like Millfield of Dreams.

We strongly encourage you to watch Millfield of Dreams before attending! Find out more and watch the film here: https://peterboroughpresents.org/millfield-of-dreams/

We've also embedded the direct youtube link further down this page.

About Millfield of Dreams

Millfield of Dreams is a film by Mark Murphy, co-created with the people of Millfield, Gladstone and New England in Peterborough. Over 100 local residents and community groups came together to showcase the vibrant and diverse heart of these communities through film. People from all walks of life participated, including current and past residents, community and cultural leaders, school children, families, sports clubs and businesses.

During February 2025, we turned Gladstone Primary Academy into a film studio for our cast and turned the neighbourhood of Millfield into a live set: using drones and roving cameras to film the city and the surrounding fenland landscape. Throughout the shoot, our community cast were the stars, taking part in a variety of scenes that showcased their talents, drew out their emotions and celebrated their heritage.

The film is a joyful reflection of Millfield’s rich, cultural mosaic and a celebration of everyday lives which beautifully unites all backgrounds and faiths.

The film was published in May 2025, featuring a red carpet launch on the big screen at Odeon Peterborough, and has been subsequently screened online, at community festivals and exhibitions around Peterborough.

Find out more and watch the film here: https://peterboroughpresents.org/millfield-of-dreams/

About Mark Murphy

With a remarkable career spanning theatre, TV, film, outdoor spectacles, major civic celebrations, and global sporting ceremonies, his impressive portfolio includes numerous theatre shows, collaborations with Kylie Minogue, BBC1’s Countryfile as well as large-scale events for the Manchester, Melbourne and Glasgow Commonwealth Games ceremonies and cultural festivals and shows for the Liverpool and Turku European Capital of Culture opening nights.

Watch some examples of Mark’s previous projects here

About Peterborough Presents

The city’s Creative People and Places programme, established in 2014/15, Peterborough Presents works with communities and artists to create great art across the city. By great, we mean art that is fun, diverse, and mostly importantly, relevant to local residents. Our community-led commissioning process places our audiences at the heart of the decision making process, underpinned by a key set of values that are central to our ways of working.

www.peterboroughpresents.org

About Gladstone Primary Academy

Gladstone Primary Academy is a multicultural primary academy near the centre of Peterborough. The academy has excellent facilities, including a large 4G pitch, learning centre, halls and computer rooms, and benefits from being part of Thomas Deacon Education Trust (TDET), a Cambridgeshire-based multi-academy trust.

www.gpa.education