Goths urged to don glad rags and share memories

Audrey Cook is exploring the North East's alternative heritage

Goths are being urged to don their glad rags and dig out their photo albums as a celebration of the North East's alternative heritage begins.

Middlesbrough's town hall is hosting a goth social event on Friday, as part of a three-part project curated by Audrey Cook.

The artist wants goths of all vintages to "come as they were" and share memories with local storytellers.

They said: "This is about celebrating the subcultures that are pillars of our community, but not commonly shared or celebrated."

The goth scene started to take shape in the late 1970s

It is hoped Audrey's Bus Stop Goth project will get goths to share memories ahead of a theatre show and exhibition, to take place in April.

The exhibition's name is inspired by Audrey's focus on the "goth spots" they said were common to many working class towns.

"I work a lot with community stories," they said.

"For a very long time, I've been thinking about those spots that are just known among everyone as the spots where the goths and the emo kids hang out - Middlesbrough's town hall steps, for example.

"When an older generation grows out of the space, a new generation takes its place.

"I find it fascinating that it's always the same place and as a big fan of folklore, fantasy and myth, I thought it would be a really cool basis for a piece of modern day folklore."

The mid-1990s at Middlesbrough goth spot Blaises

The social events, at the town hall on Friday and at Stockton's ARC on 8 March, will feature music, games, prizes and the chance to share memories with North East storytellers Carmen Marcus, Sara Dennis and Kym Deyn.