Trailblazer: Delia Derbyshire

Background

Delia Derbyshire was a trailblazer as a female figure in the development of electronic music in the twentieth century. Working from the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop, she is best known for her electronic realisation of Ron Grainer’s theme music to the British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

On leaving the BBC, Delia moved to Gilsland, Northumberland to work as a radio operator for Laing's Engineering in Hallbankgate, during the laying of major gas pipeline infrastructure project. She then worked and lived with Li Yuan-chia at his home and art gallery at Banks, on the line of Hadrian’s Wall, 2 miles away from our base at Green Croft. Derbyshire’s creative activity during these years saw her working with visual artists, most prominently Madelon Hooykaas and Elsa Stansfield furthering her long-standing interest in the relationship between electronic music and the visual arts.

Trailblazer Festival - from 23rd November 2023

On the 23rd November 2023 (Delia Derbyshire Day) it will be the 60th anniversary of the first episode of Dr Who broadcast on TV. To commemorate we are planning a festival of sound inspired and influenced by Delia Derbyshire, her work and her connection to Gilsland and the surrounding area. The festival will feature new artistic sound commissions, community engagement activity, open workshops, talks, performances screenings and a podcast.

25th & 26th November - Trailblazer will be a family friendly weekend of workshops, talks, performances centred around a new Trailblazer exhibition at The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre, Northumberland National Park. 

Thursday 30th November - January 2024 - Trailblazer exhibition will move to the gallery at RSPB Geltsdale, Cumbria.