BEGINNINGS by Christina Radukic (2m 30s)
My composition layers fragments from ten interviewees over a repeated drone to add an ethereal quality to their stories. 'Beginnings' is a tapestry of voices, a toe-dip into the vast range of experiences that propelled those involved with 5 Cally Road into activism.
TAKING ACTION by Laura Toms (11m 30s)
Taking Action explores the various campaigns and protests that were tightly connected to 5 Cally Road, with a particular focus on the anti-nuclear movement. During the piece, I want listeners to feel the raw exciting energy of these movements and be inspired by their desire to change the world.
BEYOND THE BRICKS AND MORTAR: HOUSMANS AND THE PUNK SCENE by Connie Hatt (4m 39s)
“Anarchy, peace and freedom. I thought that’s what I’m into” – Ramsey Kanaan. This piece explores Housmans connection to the anarcho-punk scene. In the early 1980s many young people discovered Housmans beyond the building, by seeing their stalls at anarcho-punk gigs. Their memories are interspersed with music from the time by anarcho-punk band Crass.
Watch Beyond the Bricks and Mortar here.
SHELTER by Naoise Murphy (15m 10s)
"A place like that bookshop is a sanctuary" - Geoff Hardy. This piece explores the various ways people have found shelter in 5 Cally Road over the years. It is structured around three stories, recounting times when activists found themselves in danger, and how they gravitated, instinctively, to the building for refuge at all times of the day and night.
UNITED IN OUR DIFFERENCES by Tania Aubeelack (9m 17s)
“Pacifism is simple in a way; it means I would not do that” – Bob Overy. In this piece I chose conflicting statements from our archive to explore what our interviewees think are the best ways to struggle against war and violence. The voices I present disagree over what campaigns to mount and what tactics to use. Amongst all the differences there are attempts to reach across the divides of different campaigns and unite.
Watch United in our Differences here.
PRAGMATIC ANARCHISM by Keir Chauhan (4m 35s)
This piece is based on an oral history interview I conducted with Martyn Lowe, a London Greenpeace activist. Here Martyn explains his anarchist philosophy. I combined Martyn speaking with sounds recorded from my rooftop: wildlife (peregrine, bird calls), machinery (train) and atmospheric sound (horn).
Watch Pragmatic Anarchism here
THE PERMANENCE OF THE BUILDING by Will Hecker (7m 28s)
When reflecting on the impact of 5 Cally Road, it is hard not to become overwhelmed by its impact on a multitude of social movements, which have genuinely shaped the society in which we now live. What stands out in the interviews is the very tangible importance of having a physical space to carry out these changes, to meet, to debate, to organise, to laugh, and to argue. This becomes a bittersweet legacy as the longevity of these physical spaces becomes increasingly precarious.
