The School on Seaside Lane (trailer)

The School on Seaside Lane," a film by Carl Joyce, tells the story of an Easington Colliery school that stood empty for nearly 30 years. More than just nostalgia, it explores the impact on communities when industries disappear. Through local memories and stories, the film becomes a powerful metaphor for Easington Colliery and countless other former mining villages struggling with decline. It also examines how the filming of "Billy Elliot" at the school, while significant, didn't translate into lasting positive change. Told with raw honesty, "The School on Seaside Lane" is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the North East. It won Best Documentary at the Sunderland Film Festival and has screened at festivals across Europe.