25th & 26th May
This event has already taken place
"Small space; grand ambitions!"
~ Helston Old Cemetery Chapel
Image (c) Si Colgan
On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May we are flinging open the doors of the Helston Old Cemetery Chapel to say hello, welcome and come on in. We want to start understanding what you want from this new space for Helston and to share with you some of our own ambitions and dreams.
Our Welcome Weekend timetable
Saturday 25th May
2.30-3.30pm - Tam Lin Retold (performance)
5-7pm - Private event
7.30-8.30pm - Tam Lin Retold (performance)
Sunday 26th May
1-4pm - The Faces of Helston Exhibition (free)
1-3.30pm - Community Cream Tea (free)
3.30-4pm - Stories of Helston [working title] project announcement and Q&A (public)
7.30pm - Chippy (performance)
"Our ambition is to repurpose the chapel into a welcoming space to share and develop high-quality and aspirational creative arts and community engagement projects."
~ Guy Watson, Creative Producer for Trevow Helston
What'll be going on over the weekend?
On the Saturday afternoon we're welcoming Corinne Harragin and Nick Hart with, Tam Lin Retold. Unscripted and accompanied by live, mostly improvised music, this beautiful storytelling show recentres unsung voices from folklore. The event is ticketed but, as with all of our events, there are multiple ticket prices for you to choose from and a free ticket draw to enter. In the early evening, we'll be welcoming creatives and artists from across Cornwall, and key local stakeholders, to introduce them to our new space and to dream up future projects for Helston. Then we'll enjoy a second performance of Tam Lin Retold from Corinne and Nick.
The Sunday is all about listening to the people from the communities that make up Helston and The Lizard. The doors of the chapel will be wide open from 1-3.30pm and everyone is welcome to pop-in for a free scone and cup of tea. We are ready to hear your thoughts on our ambition for the chapel and answer any questions you might have. We want to start bringing more people on our journey so we'll be sharing with you ways you can get involved from a spot of weeding or painting to performing in a show; from volunteering at the bar to joining a community programming board choosing the events and activities you want to see. At 3.30pm, we're going to give a short introduction and answer questions about our new project, Stories of Helston [working title]. This long-term project will culminate in a walking performance sharing the untold stories of Helstonians who have been at rest in the cemetery for a hundred years. We want anyone and everyone to be involved - living room researchers, sewing enthusiasts, singers and performers, Helston history buffs, choirs and community groups - so come and find out more! And then in the evening, we're welcoming Cornish playwright, Henry Darke with his new play, Chippy, a riotous, daring new comedy, about what it means to live in Cornwall.
Over the weekend the chapel walls will also be home to Si Colgan's, The Faces of Helston - a five-year-long photography project capturing as much about Helston's people and changing places as possible. Come and see over fifty photos of the town!
Helston Cemetery Chapel has laid empty and deteriorating for six years and we're excited to open the building for the community once again - so come on in and let's dream together...
Some practical information
The address of the chapel is Helston Old Cemetery Chapel, Meneage Road, Helston, TR13 8BH.
There is a large pay and display car park opposite the Helston Medical Centre, Trelawney Rd, Helston TR13 8AU. This is a 5-10 minute walk away. It is possible to drop-off and pick-up immediately outside the chapel building.
There is level access from the tarmac path into the side door of the chapel. There is space inside the chapel for wheelchairs. If we can support you in others ways please contact us on guy@cousinjacks.org
The Faces of Helston Exhibition and the Community Cream Tea are free, public events and everyone is welcome.
Tam Lin Retold and Chippy are ticketed events and pre-booking is strongly recommended. There are multiple ticket options for both shows including a free ticket draw.
Our Welcome Weekend may be filmed or photographed and the material may be used by Trevow Helston at any time for evaluation, promotion or other projects.
This is just the start of our journey and we'll be finding other ways to engage with our community and hear your thoughts over the coming months.