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LemonAID Response Unit

Lemonaid Response Unit

Recent Articles

  • Loads to tell you! June 24, 2025
  • I want you to hear it first June 24, 2025
  • Baby’s head, pea wet and chips January 31, 2025
  • Transylvania and the latest August 1, 2024
  • Ordinary people will always fight April 18, 2024

Check out Victoria on Instagram!

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Dec 11

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EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
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Dec 9

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Loved chatting on the American podcast @poorprolesalmanac for the episode Reclaiming History: Victoria Melody on the Diggers, Community Activism, & Empowering Change. We got into the Diggers, community action, and the real stories behind my show Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak, which is touring in 2026. More on that soon.

He does say I’m from Bristol, but we all know I’m a Brighton gal. It’s like New York/Newfoundland.

Link in bio, or find it wherever you get your podcasts.

For the algorithm:
Diggers, English Civil War, Gerard Winstanley, communal land ownership, historical reenactment, community activism, social change, community trust, youth empowerment, gardening, unused and disused spaces, community hubs, community connection, storytelling, collaboration, creativity, challenging the status quo, community engagement, community issues, disenfranchisement, social spaces, artist in residence, Meals on Wheels, malnutrition, Whitehawk, Brighton, community garden, vegetables, empowerment, theatre, Norfolk, Northeast, US, Victoria Melody, victoriamelody.com, Instagram.
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Dec 4

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Never stop learning with this DIY malarkey
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Dec 3

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Ahhhh the 80’s when the best entertainment consisted of a pig roast, cake and tug of war
28 3

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Dec 2

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I write newsletters every month (every other month if I’m completely honest). They’re full of my news, fun bits, and recommendations for things I’m loving. Sign up via the link in my bio and receive my secrets in your inbox every month (every other month really).

#newsletter #linkinbio #creativecommunity #brightonlife #theatreartist #recommendations #behindthescenes #artsandculture #uktheatre #subscribe
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Nov 24

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Back with the wild family at Crew Roots Community Garden. I’ve missed it here so much! Today we learnt that a single garlic clove grows into a whole bulb. It actually multiplies. With that logic, we decided to plant some money to see if we could grow a money tree.
Adam the gardener says these sessions are the highlight of his week, and the young people can’t get enough. The garlic will be ready in July, and we can’t wait to see what we harvest next. @gurt_plants @crew_club 

#CrewRoots #CrewClub #CommunityGarden #CommunityGrowing #YouthWork #YouthProjects #BrightonCommunity #EastBrighton #UrbanGrowing #FoodGrowing #PermacultureUK #GrowYourOwnUK #GarlicGrowing #GardenLearning #NatureBasedLearning #GrowingCommunities #CommunityFood #GrassrootsProjects #BrightonAndHove #WildFamily
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Nov 22

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A few Swaffham facts from my residency research. I’ll be posting more as I keep exploring the town and its past.

@nnfest 

#Swaffham #SwaffhamHistory #SwaffhamStories #ArtistResidency #NorfolkArts #CommunityHeritage #LocalHistoryUK #HistoricNorfolk #CulturalHistory #ArtsInTheCommunity #PlaceBasedArt #BritishFolkHistory #RuralArts #HeritageProject #UKArtists #CreativeResidency
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Nov 20

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I’m very chuffed to say I’ve been chosen as the Artist in Residence for Your Town, My Town, Our Town, a youth arts programme in Swaffham produced by Norfolk & Norwich Festival @nnfest.

It’s my first week and I’ve basically been on a fact-finding mission. Consider me a big ear wandering around Swaffham, listening to stories, meeting brilliant young people and soaking up everything I can. Really excited about what we’ll make together.

#ArtistInResidence #YourTownMyTownOurTown #NNFest #NorfolkAndNorwichFestival #Swaffham #SwaffhamArts #CommunityArts #YouthArts #CreativeCommunities #UKArtist #SociallyEngagedArt #ArtsForChange #NorfolkArts #EastAngliaArts #ListeningAndLearning #BigEarsBigIdeas
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Nov 14

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My pre-show routine is less champagne and lines, more chai tea and a quick lie-down
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Nov 14

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This is the limited edition postcard that genius Whitehawk artist @houseoflucyart made for our theatre show Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak 

It features our rebel community garden we started with @crew_club and the steps @whitehawkfc 

We love it!
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Nov 13

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Me and my director Mark Thomas side by side in the brochure for @lakesidearts I loved every moment of us collaborating together. He was bossy and sometimes I compared him to the ballet teacher in the film Fame “do it again”. He was also a total hypocrite he would tell me off for ad-libbing and then I found out his director was telling him off for the same thing! He was annoying - once he decided to spend the whole day directing me in the voice of Frank Sidebottom. But he was an absolute wonder and legend and this show that we worked on together is a thing of beauty. Also I’m £1 cheaper than his show so grab yourself a bargain and see MY show. 2 last chances in 2025. Tonight Nottingham @lakesidearts and tomorrow 14th Nov @thegaragenorwich
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Nov 12

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Bring me a ball! Tomorrow @lakesidearts
Friday @thegaragenorwich
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Nov 9

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Things are brightening up in DIY Land. Soz not soz for dad pun
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Nov 8

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DIY DDI (don’t do it)
28 7

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Nov 6

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Last night I was live on @bbc @bbceastmidlands radio from my sofa via Microsoft Teams. I honestly thought it was a pre record, so when the producer said we were going on air with @arunsocrates in thirty seconds I had to transform from sofa slob to glistening radio presenter at record speed. One second I was horizontal in a hoodie. The next I was sitting upright pretending I had notes and a media plan.

We talked about my show Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak, co directed by Mark Thomas, which finishes its 2025 tour dates on 13 November at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham @lakesidearts and 14 November at The Garage in Norwich @thegaragenorwich 

Listen back on @BBCSounds Search for Arun Verma’s show on 5 November. I am on at 1 hour 09 minutes in.

#TroubleStruggleBubble
#TheatreTour
#UKTheatre
#SoloShow
#NewWriting

#CommunityPoweredArt
#HistoryFromBelow
#WhitehawkHill
#LakesideArts
#TheGarageNorwich
#BBCSounds
#BrightonArtist

#MarkThomas
#diggersandenthusiasts
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Nov 3

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1st day on a new massive project in Norfolk. The daunting but exciting beginning stage — full of unknowns, and potential. Then someone releases a flock of pigeons… it’s a sign! I’ve put this video here so when I look back in 2027 and we’ve all made something incredible together I can look back and remember this slightly nervous and very excited woman in her hotel room on her first day! 

#Norfolk #CreativeProject #TheatreMaking #NewBeginnings #CommunityArt #ArtistLife #BehindTheScenes #UKTheatre #ArtsInNorfolk #PigeonsAsOmen #MakingItHappen
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Oct 27

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Not all DIY is good. Sometimes you just end up with a worse floor and fewer fingerprints.

#NotAllDIY #DIYDisaster #RenovationReality #HomeImprovementFail #FixerUpper #HouseProject #DIYLife #RealLifeDIY #RenovationComedy #OopsIDidItAgain
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Oct 21

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I’ve written a piece about the Diggers for the @bigissueuk a paper I’ve admired for years. It feels like a real privilege to contribute to their brilliant journalism.

At school I was told I was too chatty and disruptive like it was a bad thing. I don’t have kids, but if I did, until we end poverty in the UK I’d be encouraging them to be more chatty and disruptive too.

And while we’re talking disruption — a few more chances to catch my show Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak, a piece of theatre I’m incredibly proud of:

29 Oct – The Spring, Havant @thespringhavant 

10 Nov – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury @theatre.severn 

12 Nov – Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford

13 Nov – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham @lakesidearts 

14 Nov – The Garage, Norwich @thegaragenorwich 

🔗 Link to the article and show tickets in bio.

#BigIssue #TheDiggers #UKTheatre #TheatreMaker #WorkingClassVoices #TroubleStruggleBubble #BigIssueUK #TheatreTour #SocialChange #EndPoverty #PoliticalTheatre #SoloTheatre #ArtistsOfInstagram #HistoryAndTheatre
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Oct 14

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The Reading  at @southstreetarts show
was a really special one – the historical re-enactors came to the show AND in full uniform!

I was a bit nervous. It’s a true story and they were such a massive part of it, so I wanted them to feel represented accurately. The show is funny, but I never want anyone to feel like I’m poking fun. The laughs come from me making very human mistakes, not from taking the mickey out of others.

As soon as I came on stage dragging a suitcase, they laughed – because they remembered me turning up in a field in Northumbria, the very first time we met, with that same suitcase in tow.

Thank you to @winchesters_regiment for trusting me and believing in my ideas. It’s not often you see a not-quite-historically-accurate re-enactment on a council estate – and this was unforgettable.

And thank you @southstreetarts for being the most incredible hosts. You’ve supported all of my shows since the very beginning, and it means so much. We love performing there.

Most people are brilliant!

Next stops:

29 Oct – The Spring, Havant (@thespringhavant 
10 Nov – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury (@theatre.severn 
Nov – Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford (@staff_gatehouse
Nov – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham (@lakesidearts 
Nov – The Garage, Norwich (@thegaragenorwich 

#TroubleStruggleBubble #StruggleTroubleBubbleAndSqueak #Theatre #TrueStory #HistoricalReenactment #CommunityTheatre #SouthStreetReading #DiggersAndEnthusiasts #UKTheatre #NewWriting #ReadingEvents #ReadingTheatre
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Oct 9

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OK, I’m finally ready to talk about Saturday night @brighton_dome  I’ve come down enough from the buzz now.

I love performing this show Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak – it’s about people who care, the grassroots disrupters. In a world where we feel powerless, it reminds us how we can get involved. It’s Billy Elliot meets Pride: true stories, hyperlocal, but with the feel of a movie. It’s universal, but rooted in Whitehawk, East Brighton.

And on Saturday, I had the privilege of performing it to the very community it’s about. More than anything, I wanted them to feel proud. I wanted Lacie Snow from @crew_club , Bryan Coyle from @eastbrightonfoodcoop.uk and Harry (who recorded the sounds alongside other young people and  @thesimonsound to feel that standing ovation. And they did – four minutes of applause from 500 people.

I can’t thank everyone enough: the community that trusted me, the creative team @faithdodkins @katherinaradeva Mark Thomas, Sean, Yvette and Alex. Slavka and Kyla from @brightondome. @east.brighton.trust and of course the @winchesters_regiment Hopefully I haven’t forgotten anyone! Probably have. 

On Sunday, I felt like I’d given birth to twins out of my eyeballs from sheer exhaustion.
See you on tour. 

Next stops
10 Oct – South Street, Reading (@southstreetarts 
29 Oct – The Spring, Havant (@thespringhavant)
10 Nov – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury (@theatre.severn 
12 Nov – Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford (@Staff_Gatehouse)
13 Nov – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham (@lakesidearts)
14 Nov – The Garage, Norwich (@thegaragenorwich)
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