CASCADE
Terry Cotta and The Battle for Burslem – Audio Trail
When a factory experiment goes wrong, the clay beneath Burslem is brought to life, and Terry Cotta emerges from the deep. Is this claggy creature the surprise saviour of the town? Or a threat to its existence? Follow the audio trail to find out.
At each location you will hear a different chapter of the story unfold.
To listen to the story, you will need a smartphone with internet data. At each stop open your device’s camera, scan the QR code (the black and white square) and press play.
To get the full audio experience, we recommend you wear headphones, take a good look at your surroundings and let your imagination do the rest.
Printed maps for the audio trail can be found at Barewall Art Gallery, TG Greens, Smash-On-Trent and the Market Place Cafe.
The map and accompanying illustrations were created by artist Becki Kremer using ideas developed with the Cascade group and Year 7 students from Haywood Academy.
The Cascade group is a creative team of year 7 & 8 students from Haywood Academy. They commission and work with artists to bring their ideas to life.
The audio trail was produced and commissioned by Partners in Creative Learning as part of the wider Cascade programme.
This work was kindly funded and supported by:
The Character and Arts Foundation
Thanks to Barewall Art Gallery, SMASHONTRENT, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, TG Green Cornishware, Haywood Academy Art Department, Muddy Publishing, IFK Legacy, Post Office Pub and the people of Burslem.
Shout out to all the artists involved in the project: Siobhan Mcaleer, Natalie Willatt, Becky Bell, Ian Pringle (The Listening Shelf), Becki Kramer, Anderson West and Martin Gooding
What is this project about?
CASCADE is Stoke Creates co-created project which aims to transform Stoke-on-Trent’s arts ecology, funded By Arts Council England and the Shared Prosperity Fund. Stoke Creates have commissioned Partners in Creative Learning (PiCL) to work in collaboration with students in City Learning Trust Academies. Cascade is a series of Cultural Action Zones, and PiCL were selected to run the CAZ for Children and Young People. This zone will engage children and young people in the arts, potentially through digital means and participatory events. This CAZ will be integrated with educational initiatives and designed to foster young creative talents and interests. Working with a freelance Creative Producer, Emily Andrews, the Cascade project focussed on setting up a steering group of year 7 students in Haywood Academy in order to bring them into the heart of the decision making process.
Year 1 of the project focussed on being part of the People’s Parade, the celebration of Stoke on Trent’s centenary anniversary of becoming a city. The steering group recruited a group of artists to help them design and create a large make for the parade, costumes and dance routines that could be used in the parade. Costume making and dance workshops were delivered across the whole of Year 7 in Haywood and Years 5 and 6 in Smallthorne and Mill Hill.
Artists involved in the project in year 1:
Jessica Rost: www.facebook.com/RostProductions
Kate Powell: www.instagram.com/powellpuppets
Holly Johnson: www.hojohattery.com
Louise Worrall: www.louiseworralldesign.com
Eve Travis: www.evetravisart.com
Where does this project take place?
This project takes place in Haywood Academy, Smallthorne Primary Academy and Mill Hill Primary Academy. The project runs from September 2024 until August 2026.
Funded by
Cascade is generously funded by Stoke Creates and Arts Council England with additional funding and support from City Learning Trust's Character and Arts Foundation.
