Giant radios will be taking over radio frequencies in Merseyside this week as young people broadcast their research on Liverpool’s history.
‘Waves on the Mersey’ is a project initiated by Open the Door Theatre in Education, in partnership with National Museums Liverpool.
Five giant radios are broadcasting documentaries about major historical which have shaped the city as we know it today.
Clare Molyneux, Artistic Director at Open the Door explained how her idea came about: “This all started when the young people we work with revealed they thought the riots that occurred in Liverpool in July 2011 were the first.
“I discovered there was a long list of historical events that they weren’t aware of, so we embarked on this project to learn about our history while learning new skills and creating something that can be shared with people across the city.”
A team of 70 young people, aged 14-21, researched, interviewed, edited and devised radio interviews on five different topics, one for each day. Guests such as Lord Heseltine were interviewed about the Toxteth riots, while and historian Steve Binns MBE spoke about the World War II Blitz for shows which will be on air as part of the broadcasts.
The 6ft x 4ft radios can be found at the Museum of Liverpool, Fact cinema, the Metquarter, Liverpool Cathedral and the Albert Docks, outside Merseyside’s Maritime Museum. People can tune into 87.7FM to listen to the programmes on radio or go online.
Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West, which funded the project, said: “What a fantastic way to get young people involved with their local heritage.
”The city has a vibrant and fascinating history and, through this project, more people will be able to hear all about it and how these events have shaped the place they call home.”
The project has been facilitated by Open the Door’s Youth Steering Committee who have worked with young people from the Dane Plus Youth Forum, Anfield Sports and Community Centre, Splice Disability Equality Project, Liverpool Community Spirit and Merseyside Youth Association.
Each will broadcast documentaries between 1-3pm from 18-22 February:
Today – The Beatles, 1964
Tuesday 19 February – The Toxteth Riots, 1981
Wednesday 20 February – Hillsborough, 1989
Thursday 21 February – The May Blitz, 1941
Friday 22 February – Pope John Paul II’s visit, 1982