Hackney Social Audio

As we gear up for our new oral history and podcast project, it is time for us to say 'goodbye' to Hackney Social Audio.

This will be the last upload on the HSA channel, but we will be back with our new programme in Autumn 2023.

While Hackney has long been home turf to Immediate Theatre, we're excited to also be covering stories from Newham in the future. To kick off our venture further East, Assistant Producer Carina joined this year's celebrations of Newham Heritage Month. For our final episode on HSA, she takes us along to some of the events she visited throughout the month of June.

Presenter: Sue Elliott-Nicholls

Recordings and Sound Design: Carina Vogelsberger

In this Episode, we’ll be taking trip down memory lane as we revisit some of your favourite Hackney Social Audio episodes. In this ‘Best of…’ we'll be focussing on History. We start by travelling back to WW2, when we chat with Evacuees Norman Levinson and Shirley Murgraff; then we will join up Sue as she explores the tradition of Pies and Mash in East London. Then you’ll hear Leo’s interview with Stoke Newington Historian, Amir Dotan. And finally we will revisit our interview with Black History Expert, Tony Warner.

Presenter: Leo Dunlop

Executive Producer: Jo Carter

Producer: Leo Dunlop

With the last episode of the series, it’s time to get Christmassy! We head down to the Hackney Empire to hear about their Christmas pantomime, ‘Mother Goose’, and we take a look into the creation of Immediate Theatres most recent touring production ‘Pressure drop'. Feature maker Vicki goes to visit Shoreditch Trust and Lime Tree Court to explore the reminiscence workshops that have been taking place to help young stroke survivors. And last but not least, you’ll get to hear Theatre Exchange's Christmas production ‘Beauty and the Beastlies’

Presenters: Sue Elliott-Nicholls and Dahlia Douglas

Executive Producer: Jo Carter

Producer: Leo Dunlop

Audio Engineer: Neil McKeown

Yohan L takes us out of Hackney and down to Kath's Place in Deptford, where We Care Foodbank have been having trouble with social media trolls.  This attack, along with the wave of gentrification and the cost of living crisis are taking their toll.  We hear from the volunteers who are helping to support and feed the local community.

Celia Burgess-Macey and Wendy Knight from the Hackney HOWLers talk about creating the book Write Women into History, the Women's Liberation Movement and Feminism.

Introduced by Judy Frumin

Produced by Lucie Regan

Recorded and edited by Leo Dunlop

Lookout is a project created by local Hackney artists, Andy Field and Beckie Darlington.  They've inspired intergenerational rooftop conversations across the world.  This summer they brought their project home to Hackney.  We sent our Production Club Reporter, Judy Frumin down to Hackney Showroom to join in a rehearsal and find out what it's all about.

In this months episode we are celebrating and reflecting on Black History.  Cllr Chris Kennedy tells us about LB Hackney's, Black History Season.  We have a new intergenerational play, go on 'The World Reimagined' art trail, and hear from Black History expert Tony Warner.  And to top it off we have an interview with community honouree, Kit Crowley, courtesy of Derek Smith.

Presenters: Sue Elliott-Nicholls & Jermaine Julie

Executive Producer: Jo Carter

Producer: Lucie Regan

Production Assistant: Leo Dunlop

Audio Engineer: Neil McKeown

Produced by Immediate Theatre: https://www.immediate-theatre.com/work/hackney-social-audio

Our Production Assistant, Leo Dunlop and Presenter Janet Evans, have been going to the same family arts festival for a couple of decades.  We asked Leo to record a piece about why he loves Small Festival.

We took our younger Youth Theatre on a trip to the Science Museum.  Hear all about the wonderful day they had.  And a big thanks to Zurich Community Trust for their support!

Immediate Theatre's Summer Youth Project was set at Carnival this year.  HSA asked Sorrel Allen, Immediate's newest team member, to find out how the show was coming along, and what Exposure means for everyone involved.

As children during the second World War, Norman Levinson and Shirley Murgraff were both evacuated from Hackney.  In this set of interviews they tell HSA Producer, Lucie Regan about leaving their parents, experiencing anti-semitism and the grief of losing loved ones.

Immediate Theatre's Estate-based Youth Theatre's have been taking inspiration from Natasha Gordon's play Nine Night, and creating pieces using discussion and improvisation.  Nine Night is about a British Jamaican family who are honouring the tradition of celebrating and mourning the death of their mother.  This audio play is Kingsmead Youth Theatre's response to the text and themes.

This month's short selection is one of our all time favourites, 'The History of Eels, Pie and Mash', made by Sue Elliott-Nicholls, Judy Frumin and Luxsmi Ghosh.  With interviews with Pie & Mash shop owner, Joe Cooke and Stuart Freedman author of “The Englishman and The Eel”, with a wealth of local voices. With special thanks to Chris Ross for his fabulous song 'Pie and Mash and Liquor'.

Production Assistant Leo Dunlop, takes us behind the scenes of our main episode feature about Pie & Mash. Never having made a podcast before, Leo invites us along on his audio journey.

Immediate Theatre’s weekly show for the young at heart. This week: we continue our holiday in Hackney as we visit Jenny Lewis’ exhibition along the canal, have a massage with Hoxton Health, and go on a pub crawl along the Lea River. Plus, we visit Arcola Outside festival to see a performance of new musical Benny and the Grey Cats. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos. 

Immediate Theatre’s weekly show for the young at heart. This week: we’re holidaying in Hackney! We go for a picnic in London Fields, visit Victoria Park Boating Lake and have a swim in the West Reservoir. Plus, we find out about The Castle Climbing Centre, check out the Posh Club and hear another radio play from Theatre Exchange. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

Immediate Theatre’s weekly show for the young at heart. This week: we catch up with local band and friends of the show, The Walking Wounded, and hear some music from their recent gig at Grow Hackney. Plus, we chat to Suzanne Gorman from Maya Productions about her new musical, Benny and the Grey Cats, and we hear two brand new radio plays from Theatre Exchange. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

Immediate Theatre’s weekly show for the young at heart. This week: we’re celebrating Windrush Day as we chat to Leon Leiffer, AJ Franklin and Jah Bunny about the British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal and hear an audio drama from members of the Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation. Plus, Windrush lead Councillor Carol Williams tells us about the new Windrush website, programme of events and compensation scheme, and we hear a poem from KG Lester about his father’s experience of coming to the UK. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

Originally broadcast: 23rd June 2021

Immediate Theatre’s weekly show for the young at heart. This week: we find out about Shared Lives, an initiative which has seen people across the borough opening up their homes to become carers for those in need of support. Plus, we meet local residents campaigning to save the NHS from privatisation, and we hear about Swirl of Words/Swirl of Worlds, a poetry project celebrating Hackney’s multicultural communities with an exhibition and book with poems in nearly 100 languages. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This episode covers some sensitive topics as we speak to Dr May Cahill about how the NHS can support with bereavement, we discuss the difficulty of losing close friends, and we meet a young woman who lost her father to Covid. Plus, we hear the final episode of our 'Through My Window' monologue series. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

In this episode we hear from Dr Cynthia White and Paula Shaw from City and Hackney's Older People's Reference Group, who have been influencing health and social policy and fighting ageism since 2000. Plus, we hear all about the Tower Theatre company, a non-professional company working to make theatre accessible to all, and we chat to the Posh Club Dance Club about their new online show Dancehall Flamingos. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we chat to local environmental activist Gillian Harris about joining Extinction Rebellion, and we find out about Hackney’s Community Library Service. Plus, we catch up with our team of volunteers who’ve been out and about promoting Hackney Social Radio, and we hear another segment from the ‘Through My Window’ monologue series. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week we meet Umit Mesut from the Treasure Trove Film Shop in Clapton and hear about his efforts to preserve the medium of film in a digital age. Plus, Shekeila Scarlett from the Young Futures Commission and activists from Hackney’s Ageing Well Strategy discuss how we can make the borough better for young and old, and we hear the next in the series of monologues from 'Through my Window'. Host Sue Elliott-NicholLs is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we chat to local centenarian Dabirul Islam Choudhury, who is walking laps of his garden throughout the month of Ramadan to raise money for the victims of Covid-19. Plus, we learn about Hackney’s industrial past as we hear from local residents about their memories of working in the borough, and we hear the first in a new series of monologues, 'Through My Window', created by Jazanne Arts/The Aurora Writers & Performers. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: Dr May Cahill returns to answer our health and wellbeing questions and we find out about the renaming of public spaces under Hackney Council’s 'Review, Rename and Reclaim' scheme. Plus, we hear the final part of the Jackson’s Lane Lockdown Lunch group’s mini soap opera 'The Corona Sisters'. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we chat to local photographer Jenny Lewis about her new exhibition and book, One Hundred Years, which features 100 photos and quotes from Hackney residents aged 1 to 100. Plus, we find out about the Compassionate Neighbours project at St Joseph’s Hospice and we hear part two of the mini soap opera, The Corona Sisters, from the Jackson’s Lane Lockdown Lunch group. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we chat to Pete Bennett from Grow, an independent community venue in Hackney Wick, and find out about the Sakura Cherry Tree project. Plus, we hear the first of a new 3-part soap opera, The Corona Sisters, from the Jackson’s Lane Lockdown Lunch group. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we hear the latest from Theatre Exchange - Immediate Theatre’s Over 50s group - with their brand-new play ‘Hackney to Hades’. Plus, we chat to Alison Newman, creator of the TV show Harlots. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy.

This week: we reflect on the past few months under the 3rd national lockdown as we share some of our favourite bits of Hackney Social Radio so far in 2021 and celebrate older people’s achievements and contributions to the local area. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls presents this 'best of' episode, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we find out about women’s football club Goal Diggers FC and hear from their physio Gabby Pimentel about the Quran Tin Workouts for Seniors. Plus, we find out about The Alzheimer Society’s project, Singing for the Brain and we celebrate the anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s first 'Bed-in for Peace' protest with a special playlist curated by our resident DJ Frank Kaos. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon and Judy.

This week: we discover the Woodberry Down Wetlands and find out about the work of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants. Plus, we meet some of the local community on the Woodberry Down Estate. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we’re celebrating women! We chat to Selina Brown about her creative workshop 'Flawlessly Imperfect' and Wendy Forrest tells us about a new book which explores the 'Women from Hackney’s History'. Plus, we find out about the many events planned across East London for Women’s History Month and we chat to Anna Birch about the Mary Wollstonecraft Walk in Newington Green. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we find out about Hackney’s University of the Third Age and Dr May is back to update us on the vaccination rollout. Plus, we find out what impact Covid has had on the A&E department as we chat to Dr. Emma Rolland of Homerton A&E. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we chat to local band Walking Wounded and hear one of their tracks, and we find out how to be counted in the upcoming census. Plus, we’re joined by Hackney Libraries’ poet-in-residence Jack Houston, who will be telling us about their poetry groups and running a taster workshop on air. Host Sue Elliott-Nichols is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve, and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we chat to Lynn Humphrey about the Council’s Digital Buddy programme, which provides technical support for older people, and we find out about osteopathy and pain management in lockdown with Ruby Hyde-Saddington and Thomas Pinna from Core Clapton. Plus, we hear about Lunar New Year celebrations in China and here in Hackney as we speak to visiting student Zishu Li and Vicky Yung from Hackney Chinese Community Services. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we speak to Soraya Zahid and Tracey Barnes from Hackney Council about the new Ageing Well Strategy, and are joined again by Civil Rights campaigner Reverend Doug Hiza. Plus, we chat to Vicki Carter and Julie Keylock about the LGBT+ Sport Awards and hear from Dr May Cahill in this week’s "I Love Hackney". Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we visit Imece Women’s Centre to find out about the empowering work they do in the community, and we learn about mindfulness and self-compassion with Larissa Sherman and Miia Chambers from Mind. Plus, Dr May is back with an update on the Covid vaccinations. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon, Steve and Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we chat to Nicola Babbino about Hackney’s plans to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day online, and we find out about the Hackney Winter Night Shelter’s COVID response from manager Henry Brown. Plus, a radio play from amateur dramatic troupe Victoria Park Players, and we hear from our very own Steve Roberts in this week’s “I Love Hackney”. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon and new presenter Judy, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we meet veteran Civil Rights campaigner Reverend Doug Hiza and we find out about the Covid vaccine rollout from local residents who have been vaccinated, local healthcare professionals and experts. Plus, we get some tips on keeping fit from Nick Bender at Walk & Talk and we speak to The Economist’s Health Policy Editor Natasha Loder. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon and new guest presenter Judy Frumin, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week: we speak to Hackney’s long-serving Member of Parliament, Diane Abbott, and we find out about a short documentary by local filmmaker Liam Saint Pierre which explores loneliness and intergenerational friendship. Plus, we chat to Peter Merrifield, a quit smoking advisor from Support When It Matters. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon and Steve, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week, on the first episode of 2021, we chat to Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville and find out all about The Arcola Theatre’s new project Arcola Outside. Plus, Janet meets local artist Nolly Gregory, who began painting and exhibiting her work aged 61, and we hear from listener Anna in this week’s “I Love Hackney” segment. Host Sue Elliott-Nicholls is joined by Janet, Sharon and Steve, with music from our resident DJ Frank Kaos.

This week we look back at some of our best bits of the year! We hear how it all began, share some of our favourite features, and hear from Hackney residents on how they’ve coped and thrived in these strange times. Host Sue-Elliott-Nicholls presents a 2020 highlights episode, with appearances from Janet, Sharon and Steve throughout.