Waltham Forest London Borough Of Culture Announces Tickets On Sale For Atomic 50

Blackhorse Workshop will transform a disused school building in Leyton Sports Ground into ghost factory 'ATOMIC 50' for London Borough of Culture 2019. In collaboration with acclaimed performance artist Abigail Conway (Party Skills for the End of the World, MIF and Border - A VR Ride, Sky Arts) and set designer Soraya Gilanni Viljoen, Blackhorse Workshop will create an experiential installation that will inspire children age 7 - 11 and celebrate Waltham Forest's heritage as a centre for manufacturing and metalworking. The Borough was home to leading toy companies Britains and Wells Brimtoy during the 1930-1960s where some of the world's most collectible tin toys were made.

Merging practical teaching with immersive theatre, the experience will run throughout April, with specialist tin technique workshops also available for adults. Open to local schools during term time and families from Waltham Forest and beyond during the Easter holidays (6-20 April), bookings open on 30 January. A number of free tickets are available to book online for low income families and individuals living in the Borough.

ATOMIC 50 (the number of protons in an atom of tin) will be a radical reimagining of the traditional learning environment. After clocking in as workers at the factory, children will be taken by performers on an exhilarating journey through time and metalworking. Exploring different rooms and installations they will discover the history of tin making, learn about its use as a sustainable alternative to plastic and produce their own tin objects on the factory line to be displayed as part of a spectacular finale sculpture.

Blackhorse Workshop will also be contributing to a lasting legacy for Waltham Forest; following the project's completion, the ATOMIC 50 machinery will relocate to Blackhorse Workshop in order to expand their teaching offer on a permanent basis.

Harriet Warden, Director of Blackhorse Workshop said: "This is an incredible opportunity for Blackhorse Workshop to continue the tradition of making in the borough that has been so transformative to the local economy and wider UK Industry. ATOMIC 50 has allowed Blackhorse Workshop to develop new approaches to teaching practical skills, at a time when this is being lost in the education system. "

Cllr Clare Coghill, Leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: "ATOMIC 50 will be a true celebration of Waltham Forest's fascinating history of tin making and manufacturing, whilst also offering children in the borough a hands on opportunity to learn metal working skills in a unique theatrical setting. Over the past five years, Blackhorse Workshop has built a reputation as one of the borough's best loved creative spaces. This project is an incredible example of the opportunities to develop creative skills and access culture being offered to school children and families through the London Borough of Culture programme."

For more information visit: www.wfculture19.co.uk/atomic50
To book tickets visit: www.blackhorseworkshop.co.uk/atomic-50/