David Longford
A space to explore aspects of my work in arts and heritage, as well as occasional recces into other areas.
At some point in the 90s, I played the part of Frank Broadbent in a production of Celebration by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall. During a break in one of the final rehearsals, I sneaked a glance of the visiting producer’s notebook, whilst he left for a crafty drink. I noted the impact my performance had made. Underlined in capital letters were the words, WHO IS FRANK?
Nearly 30 years later, it seems like a good title for a personal blog.
From 2001 to 2023 I worked as the Creative Learning Manager at the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham, enabling me to work alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dance Consortium, National Theatre, Breakin’ Convention, Northern Ballet and other major companies, as well as creating projects ranging from a Pantomime education programme to arts courses for the over 55s.
Working with partners across Nottingham, I also initiated and was lead producer for Nottingham Puppet Festival.
I have directed both professional and community productions, including The Lichfield Mysteries, The Hundred and One Dalmatians starring Toyah Willcox, adapting Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes and Sue Heap’s Cowboy Baby for younger audiences, and a site-specific, promenade production of The School for Scandal to mark the 150th anniversary of the Theatre Royal in 2015.
It was this period that sparked my interest and growing passion for theatre heritage, developing this further with many Theatre Royal projects, including recruiting heritage volunteers, an active oral history programme and the creation of a digital archive at Our Theatre Royal
Seekling to widen my heritage research and knowledge ,in October 2020 I commenced an MA in Cultural Heritage Management at the University of Lincoln, graduating two years later with a Distinction.
January 2023 saw me finally leave the Theatre Royal Nottingham to take up the post of Programming and Partnerships Manager for the National Trust at the Children’s Country House at Sudbury in Derbyshire, the innovative and award-winning site that removes the rope barriers and creatively promotes history and heritage for children, families and young people.
Image courtesy of James Millar at The Tintype Studio