Threads

Threads was a multilingual, intergenerational storytelling project created for the communities of Luton.

In partnership with Pagrav Dance, the project wove together voices from different generations, celebrating stories of bravery, kindness and cultural heritage.

The project unfolded inside Beech Hill Primary School, where every Year 5 class welcomed storyteller Vayu Naidu. Vayu shared a vivid tale about a princess, family traditions and life in an Indian village. Children were invited to step into the story — adding their own descriptions, voicing characters and translating familiar words in Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu and Bangla.

Inspired by these themes, students reflected on the people in their own lives who showed bravery and kindness. They went home to gather stories from across their families — grandparents, parents, aunties, uncles and beyond. Some students recorded these stories, introducing themselves in another language, full of pride.

These recordings became part of a sound installation placed outside ROOH: Within Her, a touring dance production by Pagrav Dance. Audiences could wander through the stories before and after the performance, discovering the courage, humour and heart shared by the young storytellers of Beech Hill.

The voices of these children are powerful, moving and unforgettable.

Listen to their stories below — and let Threads continue to grow.