Before Covid19, before "self isolation" and "social distancing", there was already an epidemic of loneliness in British society. It is most acute in North East England, where 53% of adults feel lonely. It's time we told their stories. Musicians, poets, producers, writers and comedians from the region have united to create an unprecedented 24hour audio experience that does just that.

A new story was released on this page every hour, on the hour, from midnight on 21st June 2020. Now you can hear all 24 of them in a single collection.

Each introduces a different person. Some you'll recognise, some you'll meet for the first time. They're short because a good story can connect with you in just a few minutes, just as you can connect with another human in the time it takes a kettle to boil. So make a cuppa, settle in for the next 40minutes and join us in breaking down the walls of isolation.

Together we will beat loneliness.

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There will be hungry supermarket staff heading to work the wee hours, nervous joggers circling parks, confused older people waiting for social care workers to arrive, autistic school children singing to themselves. As well as sports coaches losing their online audience to Joe Wicks, tired nurses pinning doves on the doors of dying patients, parents hiding from home schooling and lonely neighbours having “just one more bottle of wine”. And much much more.

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12:00am, when the kids are in bed, written/performed by Emily Wiseman

1:00am, on the ventilator, written/performed by Oli Welham

2:00am, Mulberry House, written/performed by Rachel Burns

3:00am, cold air, written/performed by Lindsay Hannon, and WHO benefits, written/performed Viv Wiggins

4:00am, we all wake up alone, written/performed Tracey Tofield

5:00am, leaving for work, written by Allison Davies and performed by Jessica Johnson

6:00am, joggers in the park. written by Claire Tustin and performed by Steve Byron

7:00am, breakfast alone, written/performed by Beccy Owen

8:00am, good morning gabba, written/performed by Donald Jenkins

9:00am, home fitness, written Mhairi Ledgerwood and performed by Sarah Boulter

10:00am, another bloody Zoom meeting, written/performed by Claire Tustin

11:00am, home schooling, written/performed by Kelly Rickard

12:00pm, talking to my carer, written/performed by Allison Davies, and Lockdown Social, written/performed by Rowan McCabe

1pm, nurse story part 1, written/performed by John Scott

2pm, young, broke, on benefits, written by Sky Hawkins and performed by Luke Maddison

3pm, leaving school, written/performed by Emily Wiseman

4pm, here we are now, written/performed by Tracey Tofield, and nurse story part 2, written/performed by John Scott

5pm, 6 feet apart at the supermarket, written/performed by Oli Welham

6pm. normal or now, written/performed by Amy Mitchell and the watch party. written Mhairi Ledgerwood and performed Bob Nicholson

7pm, little songs, written by Rachel Burns, performed by Luke Maddison

8pm, I left without the money, written/performed by Claire Tustin

9pm, another bottle of wine, written/performed by Viv Wiggins

10pm, grief, written by Rachel Burns and performed by Ben Dickenson

11pm, the comedian, written/performed by John Scott

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Producer: Ben Dickenson

Associate producer: Sky Hawkins

Sound supervisor: Matt Tuckey

All episodes have been recorded by artists and performers in their own homes.

Follow us on Twitter: @24_isolation

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/24hoursinsolation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before "self isolation" and "social distancing", there was already an epidemic of loneliness in British society. It is most acute in North East England, where 53% of adults feel lonely. It's time we told their stories. Musicians, poets, producers, writers and comedians from the region have united to create an unprecedented 24hour audio experience that does just that.

Our artists produced nearly 30 stories. Each introducing a different person. Some you'll recognise, some you'll meet for the first time. They're short because a good story can connect with you in just a few minutes, just as you can connect with another human in the time it takes a kettle to boil.

The stories were released in 24 episodes of music, drama and poetry on the 21st June. From the 25th June you can also hear them in a specially produced single collection - subscribe now to get it direct to your podcast service.

In the couple of days after the initial release over 2000 people listened to the stories we created. The number keeps rising. We want to thank you for your support. We want to keep the stories flowing, the human connections growing.

That's why one of our producers, Sky Hawkins, has decided to share her haiku diary with the 24 Hours in Isolation audience.

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How will we remember what happened in 2020? What happened to us, what happened to you, what happened to me?

Sky Hawkins kept a journal of drawings and haikus between the 23rd March and 15th June. Often created on successive days, her poems are a frank, emotional and occasionally sweary reflection on what happens to humanity in unprecedented times.

This is a personal history of the Covid19 pandemic and the social upheavals that came after, with a specially created soundscape capturing the changing moods of isolation.

Originally intended for publication elsewhere, Sky wanted to give her poems to the 24 Hours in Isolation project in recognition of the work of other artists on the original 24 episodes and in thanks to the many who have listened so far.

Together we will beat loneliness.

Written and performed by Sky Hawkins

Produced by Ben Dickenson

A poetry film including all of Sky’s pictures and paintings from lockdown will be available in July 2020 on YouTube.

Follow us on Twitter: @24_isolation

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/24hoursinsolation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Covid19, before "self isolation" and "social distancing", there was already an epidemic of loneliness in British society. It is most acute in North East England, where 53% of adults feel lonely. It's time we told their stories. Musicians, poets, producers, writers and comedians from the region have united to create an unprecedented 24hour audio experience that does just that.

A new story will arrive on this page every hour, on the hour, from midnight on 21st June 2020. Each will introduce you to a different person. Some you'll recognise, some you'll meet for the first time.

Our episodes are short because a good story can connect with you in just a few minutes, just as you can connect with another human in the time it takes a kettle to boil. Make a cuppa, press play and join us in breaking down the walls of isolation.

Together we will beat loneliness.

_________________

An instructive tale of falling in the shit, and getting up again. "It will be alright to laugh again". The most fitting of closing messages for our collection.

A narrative reminiscence, written and performed by John Scott.

_________________

Producer: Ben Dickenson

Associate producer: Sky Hawkins

Sound supervisor: Matt Tuckey

All episodes have been recorded by artists and performers in their own homes.

Follow us on Twitter: @24_isolation

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/24hoursinsolation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Covid19, before "self isolation" and "social distancing", there was already an epidemic of loneliness in British society. It is most acute in North East England, where 53% of adults feel lonely. It's time we told their stories. Musicians, poets, producers, writers and comedians from the region have united to create an unprecedented 24hour audio experience that does just that.

A new story will arrive on this page every hour, on the hour, from midnight on 21st June 2020. Each will introduce you to a different person. Some you'll recognise, some you'll meet for the first time.

Our episodes are short because a good story can connect with you in just a few minutes, just as you can connect with another human in the time it takes a kettle to boil. Make a cuppa, press play and join us in breaking down the walls of isolation.

Together we will beat loneliness.

_________________

How do the ones who care for us cope? How do they break the hardest of news? In the garden, with the Labradoodle, the ball goes back and forth.

An audio drama, written by Rachel Burns and performed by Ben Dickenson.

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Producer: Ben Dickenson

Associate producer: Sky Hawkins

Sound supervisor: Matt Tuckey

All episodes have been recorded by artists and performers in their own homes.

Follow us on Twitter: @24_isolation

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/24hoursinsolation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Covid19, before "self isolation" and "social distancing", there was already an epidemic of loneliness in British society. It is most acute in North East England, where 53% of adults feel lonely. It's time we told their stories. Musicians, poets, producers, writers and comedians from the region have united to create an unprecedented 24hour audio experience that does just that.

A new story will arrive on this page every hour, on the hour, from midnight on 21st June 2020. Each will introduce you to a different person. Some you'll recognise, some you'll meet for the first time.

Our episodes are short because a good story can connect with you in just a few minutes, just as you can connect with another human in the time it takes a kettle to boil. Make a cuppa, press play and join us in breaking down the walls of isolation.

Together we will beat loneliness.

_________________

"Remember that song in France, 1988?" White wine! Red wine! It's quarantini time. A riotous drunk moment of joy and sadness.

An audio drama, written and performed by Viv Wiggins.

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Producer: Ben Dickenson

Associate producer: Sky Hawkins

Sound supervisor: Matt Tuckey

All episodes have been recorded by artists and performers in their own homes.

Follow us on Twitter: @24_isolation

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/24hoursinsolation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Covid19, before "self isolation" and "social distancing", there was already an epidemic of loneliness in British society. It is most acute in North East England, where 53% of adults feel lonely. It's time we told their stories. Musicians, poets, producers, writers and comedians from the region have united to create an unprecedented 24hour audio experience that does just that.

A new story will arrive on this page every hour, on the hour, from midnight on 21st June 2020. Each will introduce you to a different person. Some you'll recognise, some you'll meet for the first time.

Our episodes are short because a good story can connect with you in just a few minutes, just as you can connect with another human in the time it takes a kettle to boil. Make a cuppa, press play and join us in breaking down the walls of isolation.

Together we will beat loneliness.

_________________

What are you worth? She shouldn't have taken it personally. But then she did sort the whole house out.

An audio drama, written and performed by Claire Tustin.

_________________

Producer: Ben Dickenson

Associate producer: Sky Hawkins

Sound supervisor: Matt Tuckey

All episodes have been recorded by artists and performers in their own homes.

Follow us on Twitter: @24_isolation

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/24hoursinsolation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Covid19, before "self isolation" and "social distancing", there was already an epidemic of loneliness in British society. It is most acute in North East England, where 53% of adults feel lonely. It's time we told their stories. Musicians, poets, producers, writers and comedians from the region have united to create an unprecedented 24hour audio experience that does just that.

A new story will arrive on this page every hour, on the hour, from midnight on 21st June 2020. Each will introduce you to a different person. Some you'll recognise, some you'll meet for the first time.

Our episodes are short because a good story can connect with you in just a few minutes, just as you can connect with another human in the time it takes a kettle to boil. Make a cuppa, press play and join us in breaking down the walls of isolation.

Together we will beat loneliness.

_________________

He has autism. He's obsessed by Nick Cave. Dave says he has to wait outside and forgets his Space Raiders. Home schooling isn't great. Its all a bit crap really.

An audio drama, written by Rachel Burns and performed by Luke Maddison.

_________________

Producer: Ben Dickenson

Associate producer: Sky Hawkins

Sound supervisor: Matt Tuckey

All episodes have been recorded by artists and performers in their own homes.

Follow us on Twitter: @24_isolation

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/24hoursinsolation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Covid19, before "self isolation" and "social distancing", there was already an epidemic of loneliness in British society. It is most acute in North East England, where 53% of adults feel lonely. It's time we told their stories. Musicians, poets, producers, writers and comedians from the region have united to create an unprecedented 24hour audio experience that does just that.

A new story will arrive on this page every hour, on the hour, from midnight on 21st June 2020. Each will introduce you to a different person. Some you'll recognise, some you'll meet for the first time.

Our episodes are short because a good story can connect with you in just a few minutes, just as you can connect with another human in the time it takes a kettle to boil. Make a cuppa, press play and join us in breaking down the walls of isolation.

Together we will beat loneliness.

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"Random question...r-r-random question!" What is normal, and what is now? A gameshow with single mum and her daughter, exploring what's different about lockdown.

A gameshow, written and performed by Amy Mitchell with help from her daughter.

"I tried to reschedule with mam for a Sunday but that didn't work either". His mam is amazing. She's busy. He is too, or was. Now he's waiting. Pizza. Drinks. Watch party good to go. But she's late.

An audio drama, written by Mhairi Ledgerwood and performed by Bob Nicholson.

_________________

Producer: Ben Dickenson

Associate producer: Sky Hawkins

Sound supervisor: Matt Tuckey

All episodes have been recorded by artists and performers in their own homes.

Follow us on Twitter: @24_isolation

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/24hoursinsolation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.