Tracing the Tracks
Tracing the Tracks is a community-driven programme comprising an exhibition, live theatre, and a creative workshop, all working together to celebrate Crewe’s railway heritage and strengthen civic pride through storytelling, participation, and shared experience. The project invites residents to reflect on the town’s past and actively shape its cultural future, using personal stories, local history, and collaborative creativity as the foundation. The exhibition explores Crewe’s industrial legacy and social identity, while the theatre brings real and imagined experiences to life on stage. The workshops are vital to the programme, creating space for skill-sharing, conversation, and community-led contributions. Each element is designed to be accessible and inclusive, giving people a direct role in both the process and the outcome, building long-term connections and a stronger sense of place.
The theme of light alchemy shapes the design and atmosphere across my project, with each element using light to create unique experiences. The exhibition uses focused lighting to highlight key artefacts like trains and tools, drawing attention to Crewe’s railway heritage. In the theatre, dynamic lighting sets the mood and builds tension, guiding the audience through the story. Meanwhile, the workshop space is naturally lit, with exposed structural elements that create an open, inviting atmosphere for learning and community exchange. Light becomes the thread connecting all project parts, transforming spaces and deepening the connection to place and story.
