We are launching an exciting new project that invites the local community to uncover, preserve, and share the rich maritime history of Gravesend, with a focus on the tragic Princess Alice Disaster of 1878. Through a series of talks, training, workshops, and creative storytelling, this project will bring history to life while offering valuable skills development and opportunities for local residents.

This initiative will provide hands-on oral history training, historical research trips, and community-led creative workshops, ensuring that the legacy of the Princess Alice is remembered and made accessible for future generations. We’ll be working closely with local historians, schools, artists, and archive specialists, creating a lasting resource for the community.

As part of this, we are particularly keen to engage young people and emerging creative producers, offering training, mentorship, and even paid opportunities to gain real-world experience in the cultural sector.

This project is proudly supported by Creative Estuary, Gravesham Borough Council, and our partners at Ebbsfleet Citizens Archive, the Oral History Society, and the National Maritime Museum.

Want to get involved? Whether you have a story to share, are looking to develop new skills, or simply want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you.

Pilot Show at Gravesham Fringe 2024

Last year, we premiered a pilot performance of our Princess Alice project at Gravesham Fringe, and the response was incredible. Audiences were deeply moved by the storytelling, with feedback highlighting the emotional impact and power of bringing local history to life. 

“Beautifully & truthfully delivered” 

“Even though I’m 10, I really enjoyed it. All I could think about was the fear people would have been feeling” 

“I would love to see more local history retold in a similar way” 

“Only once at school was I taken in by a storyteller, in 1974. Today was the second time I’ve ever experienced this. Congratulations.”

Image from our pilot show, The Three Daws, Gravesend

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