Art Work Exeter present The Real Onedin Line Exhibition

In 1976 the BBC drama The Onedin Line used Exeter Quay as one of its settings. Although the series was about the international shipping trade in Liverpool in the 1860s, key scenes were shot in front of the then unrenovated warehouses, the Prospect Inn and on Colleton Crescent, the Georgian terrace overlooking the Quay. Many people remember the area’s temporary transformation by the film team, and some appeared as extras. 

In July and August historian and film maker Bea Moyes invited community researchers to begin a process of uncovering and connecting the social and industrial heritage of Exeter Quay from the 1850s through the 1970s to today. The research gathered from this initial short project – archival research, photographs and recorded reminiscences – is displayed alongside memorabilia from the Onedin Line filming events in 1971 and 1976 donated by members of the public.

The Onedin Line Redux

Between 8th-11th September (during Heritage Open Days), artist Richard DeDomenici worked with community volunteers to make an Onedin Line Redux! Richard’s famous Redux project (established 2013) invites participants to recreate scenes from famous films/TV series in their original, present-day settings as a way of celebrating and subverting the physical and cultural heritage of these places.

Richard and the volunteers worked a super quick, very low-budget remake of some of the scenes from The Onedin Line that were filmed on Exeter Quay.

The resulting Redux will be premiered as part of  The Heritage Harbour Festival on Saturday 23 September. The free screening will begin at 7pm with ‘curtain raiser’ reminiscence performances by volunteer peformers led by Community Theatre producer Estelle Buckland, followed by the Redux screening at 7.30pm-8.30pm. Whilst the event is free, you will need to use this link to book a seat for the screening.