Move Like A Hadrian

Exploring Arbeia’s multicultural and multinational past with resident artist Rachel Eleanor Brook.

Move Like a Hadrian was an artist-led project commissioned by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, in partnership with South Tyneside Council Cultural Development, to creatively respond to the museum and its collection, at Arbeia Roman Fort, during Summer 2022. With a group of people of diverse lived experience, heritage and nationality we explored the site and engaged in community arts activities that influenced an artist film production that made up part of Arbeia Roman Fort’s 2023 exhibition.

Beginning with an interactive tour of the grounds, starting at the West Gate participants shared conversation about the presence of this reconstruction, considering what the atmosphere is like, what might we hear, see, smell and so on. They were encouraged to imagine the original building and site. 

Moving across the grounds over to the reconstructed Commanding Officer’s house the groups enjoyed food together and took part in a creative activity, designing and/or writing a postcard to the past asking questions to the people who built, worked at, lived at, and died at Arbeia. The postcards will form part of a communal artwork which was unveiled at Arbeia in March 2023.  

This commission supported HW1900 and encourages the community and visitors to appreciate more about the rich and diverse culture and heritage of South Tyneside, locally and regionally. 

Rachel Eleanor Brook produced, directed and edited Reimagining Regina: Past and Present, an artist film exploration of the themes that arose from community activity. With support from Wycombe 89 Media and Artists Bella Street Fenn and Madeleine Smyth Rachel explored the idea of past and present rituals around memory and memorial and how we celebrate life and think about death. The film’s action was inspired by the painting A Roman Funeral by Ronald Embleton and on learning that Regina’s Tombstone was unearthed next to what is now a supermarket car park.