Derby Soap Opera is one of the world’s largest and most ambitious mass participation film projects that was written, filmed and performed by the people of Derby.

Derby Soap Opera was a 40-minute film coordinated by QUAD and led by world renowned film maker and artist Marinella Senatore. It was filmed in May and July 2012 and screened at Derby Festé in September. We invited every single person in Derby to get involved!

During March 2012, Marinella Senatore with the aid of many assistants and volunteers, led workshops at QUAD and Déda to teach Derby residents the basic elements of film making, acting, dancing and script writing. Workshop participants, drawn from members of the public and local groups, fashioned a script that is about the people of Derby, and the life of the city itself. During May, Marinella led local people in filming the script in a purpose built film set at QUAD, and in locations across the city.

Derby Soap Opera Interactive Resource Area
Alongside the film set, in the QUAD gallery, there was an interactive resource area. This section of the Gallery included a recording station, designed by QUAD artists in residence Brendan Oliver and Brendan Randall (Floating Point Digital) where you could record your short film about you and Derby. Also in this area there was a selection of archive photographs from talks, events and workshops relating to the project.
There was also a sound recording station on QUAD’s Mezzanine level. Look out for the Big Pink Booth!