Jodie's Story

As a local artist, I believe Basingstoke should win Town of Culture because this town has played a huge part in shaping who I am as an artist and performer. It has supported me from the start and given me real chances to grow and create work I’m proud of.  From early on, I learnt so much with Proteus Theatre Company: skills, confidence, and teamwork. Those experiences helped me in creating my own business “Junk Jodie art and storytelling”. 

I’ve run many workshops in Basingstoke and have always found it incredibly rewarding to see families attend and show such appreciation for what the town has put on.  Every show I’ve written and made has been commissioned by Basingstoke Festival, so a big part of my journey has been built alongside the community I’m proud to represent. During lockdown, when the arts became incredibly uncertain and so much of my creative work was cancelled, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council gave me a wonderful opportunity to make online videos about the history of Basingstoke for families to enjoy. I focused on the Basingstoke Canal, the history of Jane Austen, where Thornycroft began, and the story of Highclere Castle. We made canal boats from plastic bottles, castles from cereal boxes, Jane Austen sock puppets, and I was able to teach many families about Basingstoke’s history while learning so much about my hometown too. 

This then led to being one of the reasons I won a Destination Basingstoke “A Place to Be Proud Of” Award, which helped me grow hugely as a visual artist and storyteller. I’ve seen how culture in this town is something people take part in, share and build together. Winning Town of Culture would highlight how creative Basingstoke truly is and help artists like me continue making work that celebrates our town, while supporting us to keep developing and growing as artists.