Sixties event to kick start major History Centre community project

Did you once scoot up and down Royal Parade on your Vespa or shimmy on down at The Quay Club? If so, an evening dedicated to the 1960s this May could be just your thing.

‘Sounds of the Sixties’ will officially mark the start of a major Plymouth History Centre community engagement project called ‘Plymouth After Dark’.

This four year outreach project will explore the range of activity that takes place across the city at night. Led by members of staff from the City Museum and Art Gallery it will capture stories from people of all ages and backgrounds, collect objects to add to the permanent collections, provide a series of events and commission new work.

It will culminate in an exhibition in the History Centre after it’s opened in 2020.

‘Sounds of the Sixties’ will take place at the New Continental Hotel from 6.30pm to 11.30pm on Friday 12 May.

Local historian Chris Robinson will deliver a bespoke ‘Going Out in 60s Plymouth’ talk. This will then be followed by a two-hour music set from top tribute band ‘The Revolvers‘.

Mark Tosdevin, Programmes Manager at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery said: “The 1960s was a decade of rapid change which saw major developments in society, fashion, technology and of course, music. With so many themes to focus on it’s the ideal launch pad for our major community engagement project - and it promises to be a fun and entertaining evening.”

Members of the Museum team will also be on hand at the event to chat to people who want to share their experiences of nights out in Plymouth during that decade.

People are welcome to bring in any memorabilia they’ve kept for the team to look at and can also enter into the spirit of the evening by dressing up in 60s-inspired outfits. If you shouted and screamed at The Beatles at the ABC or bopped around the juke box at ‘La Cappuccino’, this could be the event for you.

Councillor Glenn Jordan, Cabinet Member for Culture said: “Staff from the City Museum and Art Gallery are working on a number of initiatives to engage communities while the History Centre is under construction. The theme of ‘After Dark’ is brilliantly wide ranging and will enable us to capture the experiences of different people, ages, professions and cultures - helping to reveal a part of the city’s cultural heritage that many of us take for granted.“

Tickets for ‘Plymouth After Dark: Sounds of the Sixties’ are on sale now and are priced at £16.50. Tickets can be booked via www.motsixties.evenbrite.co.uk

For information about the History Centre project and the Museum and Art Gallery’s events and activities visit www.plymhearts.org