A River’s Lament: North Shields artist Olly Armstrong collecting tales of the Tyne for six-month project

North Shields artist Olly Armstrong is collecting people’s memories, stories and feelings about the River Tyne for his latest project, A River’s Lament.

Over a six-month period, Olly is working with people from the North Shields area to gather stories, poems, pictures and songs of the river.

They could be about working or playing, fun or sorrow, how the river makes people think or feel, and how the river has played a part in their life and relationships.

A River’s Lament is supported by the North Shields Cultural Quarter Projects and Events Fund. North Shields Cultural Quarter is part of North Tyneside Council’s ambitious plans for North Shields, enhancing and growing the creative economy. It is supported by the North East Combined Authority.

Olly held songwriting workshops at North Shields music festival CoastFest in June, where young musicians wrote a couple of lines each to create a collective song.

Further events for storytelling, story collecting, songwriting and picture sharing are planned at North Shields Library and venues around the town. There will be a final showcase performance of the stories, songs and images this winter.

Olly said: “Songs and stories about the river really resonate with people, they have a special power that feels like home.

“Everyone has something to say about the river and how it flows through their lives. My ambition is to pull together a collection of stories past, present and future, inspired by the Tyne.

“I want people from all walks of life in North Shields to get involved, and I’ll be collaborating with local artists too, such as Jenny, Megan and Sophia Ramsey.

“You don’t have to see yourself as a poet or a photographer, a storyteller or a songwriter to take part in this project. Just come along to one of the sessions and share your stories, pictures and words. We’ll put them together to create a piece of performance art that can be shared with everyone at an interactive showcase in North Shields Cultural Quarter.”

Anyone interested in taking part can email Olly to find out more. Planned events include a songwriting circle, an ideas session in the new Globe Gallery and two sessions in North Shields library with families during the school holidays.

Olly Armstrong has a background in music, songwriting, arts, community organising, political work and climate activism. He is North Shields born and bred, moving home two years ago after living and working in the West Midlands. Among his current work he runs a climate and storytelling group at Meadows Community Centre and is one of Helix Arts’ Artists in Residence.

Olly said: “A River’s Lament will be created by the community of North Shields. I want to gather everything from little snippets to full stories, rhymes and memories, what the river means to you and how it makes you feel.

“I’m interested in seeing how we can capture that and project it into the future, to build on the creativity of North Shields with a foot in the past. I’m hoping to expand the project in 2025 as part of the North Shields 800 celebrations.

“Living so close, we all use the river as a metaphor and a totem without really thinking about it.

“I grew up right next to it, off Borough Road. I spent a huge amount of time wandering and playing there, I still feel an emotional surge going down Tanners Bank. It brings me back to flying down there on my sister’s toy bike and breaking it. I was the eldest of seven kids and we were always out and up to something.

“I have vivid memories of pigeon coops, big boxes of wet fish. The River Tyne is a focal point of my childhood memories. The Fish Quay Festival was a massive deal for us. It was the first place I’d ever seen such a huge mass of people, the rush and the feeling of being in a crowd that size.

“Like a lot of people from North Shields, I’ve been formed by a place that is always changing. In my climate activism I’ve worked with communities devastated by decline, like those along the river here on Tyneside and in Glasgow. There’s a sense of loss of the river and its power. People mourn the death of community, the loss of jobs and of pride, there’s pain and trauma which affects people’s health. That’s why I’ve called this A River’s Lament.

“I’d love as many people as possible to take part and help me celebrate, mourn, remember and serenade the River Tyne.”

Cllr Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor for North Tyneside and cabinet member responsible for Regeneration, Economic Development and Culture said: “North Shields Cultural Quarter is funding an exciting series of projects and events including creative writing courses, a Mental Health in Music event, the staging of six new short plays, a night celebrating subcultures, career sessions for the TV, film and music industries, contemporary dance performances and a visit from one of the UK’s biggest songwriters.

“It’s all about helping grow the creative economy, to regenerate North Shields town centre. These projects are for everyone to enjoy and will help raise the profile of North Shields and support its fantastic creative community, who are working with us to give the town a brighter future.”