‘I wonder what life holds for you and me?’
In Barnsley town, emergency services stand on a bridge trying to save a stranger’s life. At a sports hall in Penistone, a pair of sumo wrestlers prepare to fight. Up Goldthorpe way, a burning effigy of Maggie Thatcher is paraded down the high street.
‘Calling Barnsley’ is a collection of revelatory monologues adapted from interviews with people of Barnsley. It was first produced with Barnsley College as a phone box installation at Barnsley Civic. Keep your eyes peeled as our phone box begins its tour across Barnsley in 2026.
This is Barnsley, speaking for itself - past, present and future.
calling barnsley -
a celebration of local stories
-
Madiha Ansari
Paul Atkins
Kay Elúvian
Dermot Daly
Jem Dobbs
Danielle Phillips -
Sound Designer
Owen CrouchEngineer
Joe D’SouzaProduction Manger
Ethan HudsonRecording Engineer
Jack HelliwellProducer
Camille KoosyialWriter
Helen MonksEngagement Officer
Rachael WaltonWriter
Matt WoodheadCreative Associates
David Andrew
Jeremy Birtles
Dominic Brown
Rebecca Hipwell-Stafford
Josh Hoyle
Thomas Hughes
Amelia Jones
Evie McGowan
Sky McSeveney
Lizzie Race
Ruby Scattergood
Joe Wheeliker
Luca Wildgoose -
Dr Ryan Bramley, University of Sheffield
-
Calling Barnsley was originally commissioned and funded by Storying Barnsley in partnership with Barnsley College and Barnsley Civic. Legacy funding provided by Barnsley Council’s Great Childhood Ambition and Love Where You Live programmes.
IMPACT REPORT
buy the book
‘A timely collection of monologues that bring real voices vividly to life.’
- Indgu Rubasingham, Artistic Director, National Theatre
‘Tender, funny, and beautifully real. A true celebration of the voices that make us who we are.’
- Kate Rusby, Singer songwriter
Photos by Robling Photography
