The Club on the Edge of Town: A Pandemic Memoir

During the Covid pandemic, a theatre company in Holbeck, London, transformed into a food bank and provided assistance to those in need, delivering over 15,000 food parcels in fifteen months.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 188 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2022
Publisher: Salamander Street Limited

There are children in Holbeck without crayons. Living in a city with an opera company. An opera company paid for with money from all of us. Until everyone has crayons no one gets opera. Thats what I believe.

A deeply moving memoir of how a group of artists fed their local community during the Covid pandemic.

When crisis hits, and audiences stay home, what's the most useful thing a theatre company can do? The answer was to become a food bank and one-stop-help-shop for those in need. In fifteen months, Slung Low would go on to deliver over 15,000 food parcels.

The idea for Slung Low's food bank came from Artistic Director Simon Stone, who was inspired by the work of other theatres and food banks around the country. "I saw that there was a real need for this kind of service in our community, and I wanted to do something to help," he said.

The theatre company worked closely with local charities and organizations to identify those in need. They also set up a distribution system that allowed them to deliver food parcels to people's homes and workplaces. "We wanted to make sure that everyone had access to the food they needed, regardless of their circumstances," said Stone.

One of the most challenging aspects of the food bank was the logistics. The theatre company had to source food from a variety of suppliers, and they had to ensure that the food was fresh and nutritious. They also had to deal with the challenges of social distancing and hygiene protocols, which made it difficult to distribute food safely.

Despite the challenges, the food bank was a huge success. It provided much-needed support to those in need, and it helped to build a sense of community among the theatre company's staff and volunteers. "It was a humbling experience to be able to help those in need, and it was a reminder of the power of art to bring people together," said Stone.

The food bank continues to operate today, and it has become an integral part of the theatre company's mission. "We believe that everyone should have access to the food they need, and we are committed to continuing to work to make that a reality," said Stone.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914228414