Music and Dance Education - made Official

17/06/2026

Posting some pictures from our launch / press day for Kara Hellys✨

It was a wonderful day sharing parts of the project with the people who are helping to make it happen! Conversations, music, dance, theatre and of course tea and scones.

We then ended with a first official get together with the entire cast. Walking the trail and reading through script.

Just over a month until we start our travelling show through the streets of Helston🎻Come and join us! Tickets are in our bio link.

15/06/2026

💧 The Five Wells of Helston 💧

For centuries, water has flowed from this hidden corner of Helston.

Long before modern plumbing, the Five Wells were an essential part of daily life. People came here to collect water, wash clothes, exchange news, and catch up with neighbours. If these stones could talk, they would have centuries of stories to tell.

One of the stories that caught our attention during the research for Kara Hellys was that of Jessie Edith Borlase.

Born in Helston, Jessie went on to become a nurse whose work took her far beyond Cornwall. During the Boer War and the First World War, she cared for wounded soldiers across Europe and beyond, becoming one of Helston’s unsung heroines.

Stories like Jessie’s remind us that history isn’t just found in grand buildings or famous names. It’s found in the wells, lanes, and everyday places that connect us to the people who came before us.

This July, Kara Hellys begins a journey of music, dance and theatre through Helston’s streets, uncovering hidden histories, local legends, and extraordinary lives. Along the way, you’ll meet characters inspired by the people who helped shape our town and discover the stories waiting around every corner.

Tickets to our travelling show are in our bio!

The trail continues... 👣✨

08/06/2026

Some of you might recognise Wheelbarrow Lane, but maybe you haven’t heard of Granny Boswell…

Granny (Ann) Boswell was a Romany woman who became a celebrity when she moved to Helston. She was considered the local wise-woman who people went to for charms, guidance and the occasional curse! She loved a drink and was unfortunately imprisoned at least seven times for one reason or another. She died in Helston workhouse in 1909 and her funeral attracted huge crowds to celebrate her life.

Wheelbarrow Lane is a place in Helston you might be familiar with; tucked away in the town centre. It connects to the historic Five Wells Lane that leads to a communal water source that has been in use since 1703. The Wheelbarrow Lane steps were designed to aid the wheelbarrows to and from the water.

Exploring Helston’s local places and people has helped shape the world of Kara Hellys. You can meet Granny Boswell down Wheelbarrow Lane during our Kara Hellys Travelling Show in July!

You will have lots of opportunities to catch us as we are performing 3 shows a day (11am, 2pm and 5pm) over 4 days (between Monday 27th July 2026 - Thursday 30th July 2026)!

Tickets are available now and you can find the link in our bio. Book now as places are limited. We hope to see you there!

20/05/2026

Take a sneak peak into our Kara Hellys launch day at the end of April!

Welcoming people into Helston’s Museum of Cornish Life. Talking🗣️playing🎻dancing💃🏼and tasting delicious scones🍬

The whole team came together for the first time too! Getting into costumes, taking a tour of the town trail & doing a read through of the script.

We are so excited for what’s to come. Stay tuned❤️

14/05/2026

What a fabulous morning ❤️

Little Sing at the Minack Theatre ❤️

Pendeen Primary School & Children’s Ark Nursery, Sennen Primary School EYFS, St Buryan Primary School Nursery & EYFS, St Levan Primary School EYFS & Brambles Nursery - You Were Awesome ❤️

A huge ‘Thank You’ to John, Sarah and Simon at the Minack Theatre for all their support and Storyteller Dylan from the Minack Acting Academy - a tremendous team.

11/05/2026

Every story has a beginning… ✨

And for Kara Hellys, it begins here — at Helston’s Museum of Cornish Life. The very place where the inspiration for this project first started to unfold.

While exploring the museum, we discovered stories, photographs and forgotten voices from Helston’s past — including Ann Medlyn and The Perry Sisters. These discoveries became the inspiration behind some of the characters woven into our travelling performance.

Known for stealing a dress or two around Helston, Ann Medlyn steps into our story as more than a mischievous figure… becoming a voice for the women woven through Helston’s history, helping bring their stories back into the light.

From the museum, our performance journeys through the town itself — tracing stories through streets, buildings, music, movement, and memory.

So… where to next? 👀✨

22/04/2026

We’re so excited to introduce Kara Hellys — “Love Helston” 🤍

A project bringing together creativity, community, and local heritage through:
🎒 arts-based school workshops
🎨 artist development opportunities
🎭 a live travelling show through Helston’s streets, sharing stories of its people, places & past

From early research to full realisation, 2026 is the year this project comes to life — and we can’t wait to share it with you.

More to come soon…

03/04/2026

From Team MADE

01/04/2026

01/04/2026

30 years of MADE — and looking to the future!

Introducing Kara Hellys (“Love Helston”) — a celebration of local stories, people, and places.

With a schools programme, artist development opportunities, and a live travelling show through Helston, this project brings community and creativity together at its heart.

From early research funding a few years ago to now making it happen — we can’t wait to share it with you.

With thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England ✨

More to come soon…