Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project in Bradford 150215 Question 3

Question 3

Why is Britain Broken? And can we fix it or is it a case of make do and mend?

Sunday Lunch Project 150215 Q3:Why is Britain Broken? And can we fix it or must we make do and mend? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project in Bradford 150215 Question 2

Question 2

Can we avoid the major dangers of climate change and how can we do that in a way that builds a better world for everyone?

Sunday Lunch Project Bradford 150215: Q2 Can we avoid the major dangers of climate change? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project in Bradford 150215 Question 1

Question 1

How do others square showing love/support/respect for ageing parents (and their cultural/religious values) shaped by different circumstances?

Sunday Lunch Project 150215 Bradford Q1: Different Generational Values. How do I manage it? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project in Brighton 180115 Question 5

Question 5

Are you happy with your work life balance? If so, how?

Sunday Lunch Project 180115 Brighton: Q5 Are you happy with your work life balance? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project in Brighton 180115 Question 4

Question 4

Is multiculturalism working? And if not, what can we do to make it work better

Sunday Lunch Project 180115 Brighton: Q4 Is multiculturalism working? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project in Brighton 180115 Question 3

Question 3

How can we balance the global and the local?

Sunday Lunch Project 180115 Brighton: Q3 How do we balance the global and the local? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project in Brighton 180115 Question 1

Question 1
When will the environment take precedence over the economy?

Sunday Lunch Project 180115 Brighton: When will the environment take precedence over the economy? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project at Ovalhouse 051014 Question 8

Question 9
How can we make the different amounts people are paid more fair? Are there countries who do it better?

SL Project 051014 Q9 How can we make the different amunts people are paid more fair? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project at Ovalhouse 051014 Question 7

Question 7
I am learning to trust the universe that I am looked after. How do you feel about that?

SLP 051014 Q7 I am learning to trust the universe that I am looked after How do you feel about that? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project at Ovalhouse 05/10/14 Question 4

This question comes from our youngest ever (13 years old) guest at a Sunday Lunch Project event. 

Question 4

Why are celebrities rich?

SL Project 051014 Q4: Why are celebrities rich? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: The Sunday Lunch Project at Ovalhouse 05/10/14 Question 3

Question 3
How can I meet lots of people in my new area?

SLProject 05/10/14 Q3: How can I meet lots of different people in my new area? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

The Sunday Lunch Project at Ovalhouse Fun Palace 5 October 2014

I've been a little (ok, very) slow in publishing the recordings from the last Sunday Lunch Project event at Ovalhouse in October. Mostly because it was a bigger event than usual and there were double the normal amount of questions to wrangle, but also because I've been alternating super busyness with hyper laziness and let it slip a little. Sorry about that. But anyway, here we are.

The Ovalhouse event was a simultaneously joyous and terrifying experience. For the first time, advance sign up wasnt required and guests could just turn up on the day - so I didn't know who (if anybody) would come or what they'd ask. I couldn't muster my thoughts on the questions  in advance or even make arrangements for any special dietary requirements. So it all felt a bit like I was flying by the seat of my pants. But as it turns out, sometimes that's a good thing.

Normally when I host events away from home, I'm an outsider turning up in an arts venue of some sort, I rock up, cook, eat, chat, wash up and leave. But this time was a bit different. As some of you might know, when I'm not trying to change the world through food based means, I'm also Co-Director of Theatre at Ovalhouse. Me and my brilliant co-director Rachel Briscoe had decided to include an SL Project event as part of Ovalhouse's Fun Palace weekend- which meant that not only was I on 'home turf' in a slightly unnerving way, but also that I'd be hanging out with some of the guests for a whole weekend rather than just a couple of hours. It meant that people could come and chat to me about what the project is about before and after the lunch, but also that they could carry on their conversations long after we finished the baked banana dessert. I caught several of the guests having a cuppa and a chin wag together later in the weekend - and it made me ponder; Is there a way to help people sustain the relationships, ideas and calls-to-action that always emerge at SL Project events in a more coherent reliable way? Maybe some sort of 'Survivors' group? An online forum? An annual knees up? Answers on a postcard please.

Anyway. For now, here's the first of nine questions that we talked about that day. Enjoy.

Question 1: How can I stop getting annoyed with selfish people in London?

SL Project 05/10/14 Q1: How can I stop getting annoyed with selfish people in London? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Lunch 3: Derby, Friday 18 July 2014 Topics for Discussion

So. This event is a bit of a stylistic aberration. Not only does it have the temerity to take place on a Friday instead of a Sunday, it is also the only event to solicit questions under a unified theme. It's being hosted by Derby Theatre as part of DEparture Lounge's Bumper Artist Development Day, so all questions are going to be focused on how we might make the world better for emerging theatre makers.

So. The topics of conversation for this month's Sunday Friday Lunch Project are:

• What kind of message do we send out to the government and other funders when we put our ideas into practice with little or no funding?
• Commissioning funding pots of venues/organisations seem to be shrinking, but Art still needs to be made. How do emerging Artists/theatre makers continue to lever commissioning funds from venues and partners in order to match fund Grants for the Arts applications when there is a will for venues to support but ever decreasing cash to invest? Can we work differently or more collaboratively with venues to achieve this is other ways?
• How do you take the step from part-time freelance to full time free-lance and is it natural for this to fluctuate? When is the best time to do this?
• Does age affect the ability to emerge as an artist of some kind?  Is the innocence of youth the best? Or does maturity give you more material?
• What opportunities or challenges does the current trend for co-productions pose? Does it impact the individuality of organisations or does it enhance the creative process?
• Emerging artists are pressed to limit the scale of their ambition and ideas due to limited resources. Once you find some success, how do you then re-learn the habit of having Big Ideas and build the skills to make them work?
• I'm just starting out and I keep hitting a brick wall with my creative partner. She is vetoing every idea. How do I get around this?

That feels like a lot of quite meaty conversations. Watch this space for the transcripts.


In other news, I know that I haven't got the last entries from the last event up here yet. It's because I need to edit the recordings for confidentiality and its proving a bit fiddly. Bear with me - I'll get there I promise!

Recordings: Sunday Lunch Project 29/06/14 Question 4

Question 4

Ageing: our perception, experience and expectation of old age. Given that everyone is living longer, what can we do to dispel the myths and ensure that an older age of dignity, respect and possibility is available to all?

There's an edit for confidentiality half way through this one - but it doesn't affect the sense of the conversation.

Recordings: Sunday Lunch Project 29/06/14: Question 4 Ageing. by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: Sunday Lunch Project 29/06/14 Question 2

Question 2

What influence is the rise of the Right Wing having on young people? Are us old lefties the end of the line?

(this one lasts about 27 mins)

Sunday Lunch Project 29/06/14: What Influence is the rise of the Right Wing having on young people? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: Sunday Lunch Project 29/06/14 Question 1

Question 1

What's it like to live in leeds right now?
(The recording is about 16 minutes long)

Sunday Lunch Project 29 June 2014: Question 1 What is it like to live in Leeds right now? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Lunch 2: Leeds, Sunday 29th June 2014 Topics for Discussion

Tomorrow marks the very first Sunday Lunch Project event that takes place outside my home. I'm off to the rather lovely SlungLow HUB in Leeds to host the event there.

I had a bit of a worry that because I don't have as many networks outside London, that it'd be hard to persuade people I didn't know to come and join in, but it turns out I was worrying over nothing; the event is actually slightly oversubscribed. Thankfully I'll be assisted by the brilliant and lovely Emma Adams, a pretty damn wonderful playwright and theatre maker based in Leeds who I've been lucky enough to work with before.

So, the discussion topics have been submitted. In no particular order they are:

1. Gender Inequality: Why can't we overcome it?
2. Ageing: our perception, experience and expectation of old age. Given that everyone is living longer, what can we do to dispel the myths and ensure that an older age of dignity, respect and possibility is available to all?
3. What is Feminism? Does the title 'Feminist' come with Assumptions or Stigma?
4. What impact is the rise of the Right Wing having on young people? Are the 'old lefties' the end of the line? 
5. What's it like to live in Leeds right now?
6. Capital Punishment, Immigrants, Tattoos, Drugs

This is the first SL Project where the discussion topics have touched on the growing Right wing presence in the UK.  Perhaps because it's the first one located beyond the diverse, liberal bubble of London. I'm really interested to see what the discussion throws up - especially as there seems to be a real cross section of age and experience at this one!

Recordings: Sunday Lunch Project 18/05/14 Question 5

Question 5

What effect does it have on us when our parents are gone? What counsel can I give my recently bereaved friend?

(The recording lasts about 17 minutes)

Sunday Lunch Project: 18 May 2014. Question 5 What effect does bereavement have on us? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: Sunday Lunch Project 18/05/14 Question 4

Question 4

What do you love doing?

The recording lasts about 20 minutes)

Sunday Lunch Project: 18 May 2014. Question 4 What do you love doing? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud

Recordings: Sunday Lunch Project 18/05/14 Question 3

Question 3

When is optimism appropriate? When inappropriate? When is it a mindless Panglossian attempt to ignore reality, and when a useful approach to


(The Recording lasts about 22 mins)

Sunday Lunch Project: 18 May 2014. Question 3 When is Optimism Appropriate? by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord on Mixcloud