Film maker Wayne joins gypsy and traveller community for new project
Award-winning South Yorkshire film maker Wayne Sables has been working on a new project exploring the lives of West Yorkshire’s Gypsy and Traveller community.
RIDE! Is based on stories from the gypsy and traveller world, highlighting the challenges faced by families, including the tightening of planning regulations and social stigma, while also exploring themes of resilience and community.
Big Deli - Romany Gypsy rapper Will Keet - and a cast of Bradford rappers star in the piece which brings together music, rap, dance and theatre.
Inspired by real-life stories, it was created for Bradford 2025 with gypsy and traveller communities and the people of BD4 area the city, receiving its world premiere at the TFD Centre in Holme Wood in September.
Wayne joined up with arts producing, training and consultancy Spin Arts to create visuals and projections for the piece which was commissioned as part of the Bradford UK City of Culture programme.
“It’s a live piece of multi-media about travellers, their lives and their community and was a genuinely exciting project to be a part of,” Wayne explained.
“It has been a welcome chance to discover more about the world of the Travellers and hopefully dispel some of the myths and misinformation about their culture and way of living.”
Doncaster-born documentary film maker and multi media specialist Wayne Sables has lived in and around South Yorkshire all his life.
His recent commission, Stories from Doncaster - funded by Doncaster Council in conjunction with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - told the city’s story using only the authentic sounds and experiences of real people and was screened onto iconic buildings in the city.
Last year saw him complete a film on the Isle of Bourbon Suspension Bridge for Elsecar Heritage Centre.
And his documentary marking the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike and Doncaster’s place in the bitter year-long industrial dispute had its premiere at the city’s Savoy Cinema.
“In all my work the one thing I always strive to do is share people’s stories and experiences and preserve an important part of a community’s history and RIDE! very much fell into that remit,” Wayne said.