Love Stories
Working together with local communities to tell stories from and of Scarborough through music making and creation.
What did we want to achieve?
With our partner ARCADE we wanted to explore how we could work together with the community to use orchestral music to tell stories from and of Scarborough. Alongside this, Orchestras Live’s creative approach would develop the experience of musicians from Scarborough Spa Orchestra in musical co-creation.
Our first project, Love Stories, was a digital audio trail that took listeners on a journey through the recently restored South Cliff Gardens. It featured real-life love stories with music created with and performed by the people who experienced them.
During the summers of 2023 and 2024, audiences were invited to explore the stunning coastal gardens to immerse themselves in this romantic audio promenade of storytelling, poetry, music and song.
What did we do?
ARCADE worked with the local community of Scarborough through a series of community workshops and a story gathering campaign. They collected over 100 submissions of true love stories inspired by South Cliff Gardens from people of all ages and from this varied and rich tapestry of stories, our community ensemble emerged.
The ensemble worked collaboratively with ARCADE and Associate Artist, Rebecca Deniff, to develop their stories before taking part in a series of music workshops with composer, Jackie Walduck, and musicians from Sinfonia Viva and Scarborough Spa Orchestra, to co-create new music for the audio trail.
What an amazing experience this Love Stories project has been. We have always kept our precious story to ourselves. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to share it with family, friends and the world.
~ Rusty and Ron, members of the community storytelling ensemble
The project brought together musicians from Sinfonia Viva, with their extensive experience in creative and site-specific orchestral music making and Scarborough Spa Orchestra, the last remaining professional seaside orchestra in the UK.
For Scarborough Spa Orchestra musicians, the project offered the opportunity to develop their experience of creative music project delivery and connect with the local community differently, as well as sharing their orchestra’s unique heritage with all those involved.
Being able to play my flute to help create these melodies and enhance the storyteller's words has been a real privilege.
~ Kathy Seabrook, musician, Scarborough Spa Orchestra
Open an image gallery
Orchestra, community ensemble and members of Whitby Community Choir came together to record the audio trail live at Scarborough Library’s concert hall in June 2023. The trail is presented in five chapters that explore love in its many different forms.
A Garden for all Seasons by Jean
Between Esplanade and Sea by Lel Melayal
The Cottage of Love by Bright Eyes
From Then to Now by Lynne Matthews
Love Lives Here by the Love Stories Ensemble
The Love Stories sound trail was launched in July 2023 and has been in situ at South Cliff Gardens during the summers of 2023 and 2024. Audiences are invited to explore the stunning coastal gardens and immerse themselves in this romantic audio promenade of storytelling, poetry, music and song.
Love Stories is available to listen to online
STREAM FOR FREE via the Bandcamp app on your chosen device and search Sinfonia Viva / LOVE STORIES.
Love Stories is produced by ARCADE. Co-Produced with Orchestras Live and Sinfonia Viva (featuring musicians from Scarborough Spa Orchestra). Commissioned by North Yorkshire Council.