‘Maxims Live’ launch party

Belong has launched an exciting new collaboration with the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme to bring the former Maxims nightclub back to life through shared memories, heritage and drama.
The grade II listed building is being transformed into the Belong Heritage Gallery, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It aims to become a dementia centre of excellence and will house a range of heritage facilities in the heart of the new Belong community village being constructed in the town and due to open in January 2018.
Maxims Live! is a campaign to gather people’s memories of the iconic Maxims building and launch the appeal for stories, photographs and memorabilia.
People can share stories online (see www.belongheritagegallery.org.uk to find out how) or through a series of community workshops run by the New Vic to gather memories and then create a script for a new drama inspired by the heritage of the Maxims building.
This will culminate in a performance of the new play at the New Vic theatre, as well as the Belong Heritage Gallery early in 2018. The archive of people’s memories, photos and experiences will also be featured as an installation in the gallery.
The ‘Maxims Live’ project is being undertaken by the New Vic as part of its award-winning ‘Borderlines’ initiative, which uses theatre in social contexts. It works regionally, nationally and internationally, and is acknowledged as a national model for the ways theatre can be used to work within the community.
Director of New Vic Borderlines, Sue Moffatt, said: “The ‘Maxim’s Live’ project offers a perfect opportunity for the New Vic to capture memories from local people about an iconic space in Newcastle-under-Lyme and work with individuals from the local community to create an innovative, lasting piece of work that celebrates the history of the space, and also looks forward to its future.”
The partnership has come about between the New Vic and Belong due to their shared values of giving people a sense of belonging, creating vibrant communities and nurturing positive relationships and outcomes for people’s wellbeing.
Belong Operations Director, Tracy Paine, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be working with the New Vic on this project. Bringing Maxims back to life is about much more than restoring a building. It’s people’s stories that live on and our aim is that the gallery will provide a range of opportunities for this shared exploration of the past.
“We hope people will get behind the appeal and come forward with their memories and we look forward to celebrating them in this play and the installation in the gallery when it opens next year!”