As part of Our Freedom: Then and Now, delivered in partnership with Future Arts Centres, Cast brought together communities across Doncaster to explore what freedom means across generations, experiences and backgrounds. Over several months, the project connected young people, older residents and community groups through poetry, performance, music and visual art.

Creating Together

Cast worked with three local schools and more than 120 pupils, who created powerful poetry in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. Their work captured fresh, thoughtful reflections on freedom today.

Older participants worked alongside the charity b:friend, creating deeply personal poetry that explored independence, loss, growth and belonging. These intergenerational conversations became a vital part of the project’s heart.

Community groups including Doncaster People’s Theatre and Changing Lives Doncaster developed and shared creative responses, while Citizens of the World Drummers brought energy and celebration through a culturally diverse performance of powerful live drumming.

Young people’s voices were also amplified through artwork created in collaboration with Doncaster Pride, ensuring the project reflected the diversity and spirit of the town.

A Community Celebration

The project culminated in a joyful VE/VJ Day Tea Party, attended by over 170 local people. It was an afternoon filled with music, poetry and community spirit.

The celebration featured live music from Megan Pierrepont, moving poetry performances from partner groups, and British Sign Language interpretation by Samantha Jayne Green, ensuring the event was accessible to all.

Attendees also heard a speech from Rich Lewis, Captain of 219 Squadron Royal Logistic Corps at Scarborough Barracks and Balby and Edlington’s Neighbourhood Coordinator for Doncaster Council.

Together, the community celebrated freedom, humanity and connection in true Doncaster style, while remembering those whose sacrifices made today’s freedoms possible.

Voices from the Project

Participant Sandra Galloway shared a moving reflection on what freedom means at this stage in her life:

“Freedom, when I lost Roy, I was free,
could do what I wanted,
but hated alone but free.

But freedom when I left home at 17
was like winning a fortune…

Poetry became my key to freedom…
I had this freedom to make people smile,
to make people think.

My life has I know taken the right path,
with the help and support of the wonderful friends at Cast.”

Participants described the project as inspiring, uplifting and deeply meaningful – a reminder of how creativity connects us, strengthens communities and helps us reflect on both our shared history and our hopes for the future.