Men of Burnley
Men in Burnley was created by Casson & Friends following a week-long residency in Burnley in Spring 2025 for Burnley Words Festival.
We met with community groups across the town to explore the question: What does it mean to be a man in Burnley?
The resulting 10-minute dance performance was shared with the community members who had taken part in those conversations.
Its success led to the creation of this short film, which captures and extends that dialogue.
Every scene and movement in the film is drawn directly from things said by people in Burnley.
Filmed on location in places mentioned during those conversations, Men in Burnley reflects local identity, unheard voices and unspoken conversations.
The Film is available as one ten minute video, or as three separate parts that can be viewed separately.
you can find out more about the project at the Burnley words festival website here
CREDITS
A Casson & Friends project
Directed & Choreographed by Tim Casson in collaboration with the Performers
Performed by Deepraj Singh & Matthew Winston
Film & Editing by Alexandra Boanta
Music by Paul Rogerson
Producer (for Burnley Words Festival / Culturapedia) Stephanie Jessop
Producer (for Casson & Friends) Nick Sweeting
Project Administrator (for Casson & Friends) Alice Shepperson
Filmed on Location in Burnley, Lancashire at:
Burnley Mechanics Theatre
The Royal Dyche
Ightenhill Park
Down Town
Fiveways Boxing Academy
With thanks to:
Justine Bedford
Kev at Fiveways Boxing Academy
Nicola Lanarch & Ella Roberts
Seamus Curley & Geoff Soltau
Henry Nazareth-Kay & the Friends of Ightenhill Park
We are incredibly grateful to all of the individuals & community groups who took the time to speak with us and contributed their thoughts, feelings & experience to the project.
This film was created for Burnley Words Festival. Burnley Words Festival is delivered by Culturapeida in partnership with Burnley Leisure and Culture, and funded by Arts Council England
