About
Produced by Fifth Word, in partnership with Nottinghamshire Archives. In collaboration with Mansfield Museum, and with support from MyPlace at Westfield Folkhouse Young People’s Centre, East Mids Transgender Network, East Midlands Oral History Archives and Loughborough University.
Our Story is a dynamic intergenerational creative heritage project celebrating the lives and experiences of trans and gender diverse people in Nottinghamshire.
As part of Our Story, we worked alongside LGBTQ+ young people – and their allies – from Mansfield, who undertook a series of creative workshops in oral history, photography, film-making, exhibition design, graphic design and podcasting. Following this rigorous training programme,the young people used their new skills to interview the oral histories of older trans and gender-diverse people across Nottinghamshire, capturing their personal experiences and stories of identity, moments of resistance as well as joy and community.
The young people were immersed in formal filming days, working as part of a creative team with professionals, leading on the set-design, camera set up & positioning and taking the portrait photographs of the interviewees, under the guidance of professional practitioners. They also shadowed professional directors, actors and sound designers during the recording process of the audio plays that had been created in response to the oral histories.
The audio plays are available exclusively as part of the Our Story touring exhibition.
The recorded interviews and accompanying material have been deposited in Nottinghamshire Archives so that future generations can access them. At a time when trans and gender-diverse communities are increasingly misrepresented or erased, this project offers space for visibility and pride. Our Story will help ensure these vital voices are not just heard today, but also remembered tomorrow.
TOURING EXHIBITION
Admission Free
An interactive multi-media exhibition exploring the stories of Nottinghamshire’s trans and gender-diverse residents, designed by Stephanie Coley and Leo Soph Welton in collaboration with the young creatives who took part in the Our Story creative heritage project.
Featuring an immersive sound installation to listen to the audio plays, a gallery of portrait images and artwork co-created by the young people, this exhibition provides a snapshot of the varied lives and personalities of the trans and gender-diverse communities.
The exhibition will tour Nottinghamshire Libraries over Summer 2026.
Dates
Mansfield Museum, Nottinghamshire
Saturday 27th June – Thursday 23rd July
Nottinghamshire Archives, Nottingham
Saturday 4th July – Friday 31st July
Retford Library, Nottinghamshire
Saturday 25th July – Friday 7th August
Beeston Library, Nottingham
Saturday 1st August – Friday 14th August
Worksop Library, Nottingham
Saturday 8th August – Friday 21st August
Arnold Library, Nottingham
Saturday 15 August – Friday 28th August
Newark Library, Nottinghamshire
Saturday 22nd August – Friday 4th September
Audio Plays
Our Story features new plays by award-winning and acclaimed playwrights Chris Bush, Jo Clifford, Lettie Precious, Luke Skilbeck and Mika Onyx Johnson. The plays have been directed by Jo Tyabji and with sound design by Louis Blatherwick and Joseff Harris.
The Kids are Alright
Written by Chris Bush
In Chris Bush’s witty play, The Kids are Alright, two dads meet at the playground. Otto definitely knows Jax, from somewhere? They met at the library, the craft thing with the flags? Navigating the chaos of queerness, expectation and presentation, they’re both striving to be their best authentic selves while avoiding any major injuries on the monkey bars. This parenting lark is a minefield, but the kids, right? They’re the future.
“Which is yours?
In the blue – with the dinosaur boots
The little boy by the slide?
Yep. Well, as far as we know.”
Respect Your Elders
Written by Mika Onyx Johnson
In Mika Onyx Johnson’s thoughtful play Respect Your Elders, LJ – an activist who has forgotten how to stop – runs from the shouts and pressured platform of a protest to quiet their mind beside an ancient yew tree in the churchyard. Paying attention, they listen to the love around them, pausing to care for their own heart and appreciate the magic in our everyday.
“You forgot about your own heart and perhaps you forgot on purpose”
Plié
Written by Lettie Precious
Lettie Precious’ Plié follows Jo, a young trans ballerina, as she prepares to step onto the stage of Nottingham’s Theatre Royal. Like a caged bird finding its song, she retraces the memories of violence, displacement, love and rejection that shaped her journey, until being seen for who she truly is gives her the courage to dance freely.
“They are here for me.
Un, deux, trois, quatre…
And—plié.”
Frequencies
Written by Luke Skilbeck
In Frequencies, a high school rom-com by Luke Skilbeck, queer teenagers Ash and Gem skip frequencies to chat, when Gem calls into Ash’s prime time school radio show. A normal day at Parks High except – Gem is calling from 27 years in the future. With Ash living under Section 28, and Gem unable to use the correct bathroom in 2026, can their coded messages (and Mrs Peters) help each other step outside?
“You lot are split so heavily into ‘girls’ and ‘boys’ but I’m telling you there is whole other awesome way that is both and beyond”
Supporters
