Pearly Queens to Grime MCs

Pearly Queens to Grime MCs

A great day of filming at Brick Lane Music Hall © Catalyst in Communities

There are few places on Earth more diverse, unique and evolving than Newham.  

Its culture and heritage has been influenced, shaped and affected by years of tradition and migration. From the vibrant sound of Cockneys working along the docks to the globally-influenced dialect of modern London youth, Newham is a bastion of different influences and cultural exchange.  

Pearly Queens to Grime MCs (PQGMC) is an exploration and documentation of this change through the perspective of those most immersed in its energy: the people who live in, work in and create the unique experience of the borough. The project was delivered by Catalyst in Communities (CIC), an esteemed youth and community work organisation based in Docklands, Newham.

PQGMCs was delivered alongside young people from Newham who guided the development of the content and assisted in the production alongside CIC. It became apparent during our research stages that most young Newham residents weren’t aware of Pearly Queens — or even the history of the docks and cockney culture. This prompted a questions-design focused on a discovery of that history. Some of the young people then helped YouMeUs.TV, a digital agency comprised of young east London content creators, to record and edit the content.

Newham has one of the youngest populations in Europe, and each generation of young Newham residents are themselves the product of years of cultural influence, so having their input into the focus of the project was important, as it bridged the generational gap and allowed the project to collect and present historical accounts for a modern young audience.

All of this research and work will culminate in a meaningful live cross-generational dialogue between a diverse range of Newham residents at the film screening and group conversation for this project, which you can find out more about at the bottom of this article.

And so, through intimate the interviews you can access below, we’ve tracked the personal experiences of a group of East Londoners, who have shared their perspective on the shifting landscapes of language and culture in Newham.

Culture itself is often best reflected through the music of its time, and so, through our conversations with a Pearly King and Queen and all the way to a Grime MC, you can observe, compare and appreciate the differences and similarities that make the communities of Newham both unique and different but also – and importantly – united.

East London united: MC B Polymath and Pearly King Clive Bennett © Catalyst in Communities

Pearly Queen Kim Bennett 

Explore the captivating journey of Pearly Queen Kim Bennett and discover the rich history of the Pearlies. 

Pearly King Clive Bennet t

Through his trademark London wit and charm, discover more about Cockney and Cockney rhyming slang with Pearly King Clive Bennett, and hear his views on east London’s traditions and cultural transformation. 

Sam Barker 

Hear from lifelong Newham resident and stalwart at the Tate & Lyle factory, Sam Barker, as she  observes the changing language and dialects of the area.

Shane Lavan 

Community, loyalty and togetherness have defined Newham and East London for generations. Here, Shane, a proud Plaistow resident and West Ham fan, shares his love and support for the cultural melting pot that is Newham.

Sarah Scott 

Newham is renowned for it’s migration and incoming communities. In this video, hear from Sarah Scott, deputy theatre manager of Brick Lane Music Hall and Newham resident for 20 years, as she talks about that very quality. 

B Polymath 

Discover, listen to and immerse yourself in the mind of born-and-bred Newham artist B Polymath, as he tracks his life and experience as a Newham resident, and shares what makes it a unique and powerful environment. 

A live gathering for the community 

From Pearly Queens to Grime MCs © Catalyst in Communities

Through our research and recording, it became apparent that conversations around culture and community — the successes, the problems, the ambitions — were greatly desired by residents, and the spaces to have those rich and meaningful conversations are sorely lacking.  

And so, on the 29th June at The Lounge, Docklands, we will be hosting a gathering for the community to enjoy a screening of a short film about this project and engage in a group dialogue about Newham, about what works and how things can be better.  

The conversation will be facilitated by Robin Lockhart, a world-renowned mindset coach and youth and community worker, and it will be a space to express, challenge and build the community bonds that define this borough and this part of the world.  

If you would like to find out more about the event and attend, please click this link.

We look forward to seeing you there.