Songs for Europe 2023
Commissioned by Culture Liverpool Eurostreet Programme and funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Songs for Europe was a performance and participatory theatre project produced for Nwoko Arts, for people living in care homes and their loved ones.
While the streets bustled with crowds celebrating Liverpool hosting Eurovision 2023, Songs for Europe brought fun, hope, love and music to scores of older people who couldn’t attend these public events, ensuring they were actively involved in the ‘EuroFestival’.
Created in partnership with care home residents, the team devised a 45-minute performance that included some of Eurovision’s greatest hits. Residents had the chance to sing along to Boom Bang-A-Bang, Puppet on a String, Waterloo and more, as the show tours 20 care homes throughout Liverpool and hosted public performances at the Unity Theatre in April 2023.
The Independent comments:
“Peter Ward brings his experience of producing community theatre to bring joy and remind vulnerable older people that they have not been forgotten”
“That was the heart of it, and I couldn’t do that through campaigning, I couldn’t do that through fundraising, so I thought I’ll do it through making theatre,” he says.
The tour was covered extensively and news of the project reached a potential audience of 4 million people. You can read all about it by following the links below.
The Guide Liverpool
Liverpool Echo
BBC North West Tonight
Feedback From Our Audience
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"We really loved the piece so thank you for inviting us. It was one of my favourite Eurovision pieces."
Helen Wakefield, BBC Producer
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"This will go down in the city’s history not just for hosting Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine but for a programme of creative activity and content that previously has been unmatched by any host city. So, a big, massive thank you – the scale of the impact your contribution has made across the city will be evident in communities for years to come"
Alicia Smith & EuroLearn/EuroStreets Team
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“Thank you all for making our day”
Received via a handmade thank you card from all the residents at St Nicholas care home