One of the views that emerged from yesterday's Open Spaces was that we must look to the futre for arts in Sutton. I very much agree but I think that one way we can do this is by building on the considerable local interest in creative heritage-related events featuring some of the highlights of Sutton's past.
This led to some interesting ideas - here are a few of them:

The re-enactments would not have to be confined to churchyards but could be in places of historical interest.
They could be tied up with the Carshalton artists open studios, who liked the idea very much. The actors cpuld be placed at strategic points along the CAOS route.
We should aim for 2019 rather than 2018 to allow time for writers to produce short scripts, for the facilitators to find actors, apply for a grant for costume hire, etc.
These re-enactments could be filmed and used as the basis of virtual guided walks using QR scanner technology so people could click on an icon on their phones at given points around the borough. Richard suggested having a kind of hologram that could be projected onto the actual site of the original Nonsuch Palace (based on the scale model that Nonsuch Friends have on show).
This is a great opportunity for both young and older people to get actively involved in arts events. There could be workshops to help them do the research, write scripts and act the parts.
One participant suggested sponsorship could be available from estate agents - they might have an interest in promoting the area as a thriiving centre of the arts. I think he mentioned Sydenham as a model. (A play about their local resident Eleanor Marx (daughter of Karl) is being produced there.
Some famous past residents of the Sutton area were: Noel Coward, Quentin Crips, John Ruskin, Mervyn Peake, Harry Secombe and Formula One driver James Hunt. Members of the pop group Mud came from here and the Rolling Stones played in the old Woodstock pub (now an Asda).

Background: local writers and drama groups have recently been involved in various local history projects. In 2014, "Letters Home", a play I wrote with other members of Sutton Writers (based on letters from two WW1 soldiers), was performed by members of SADC in Sutton Central Library, and in July 2017, my play "The Roughs of the Wrythe" was performed as part of a local community theatre project. ANS funding helped me to attend script development workshops with the Savvy Theatre company in 2015 and Margaret Thomas and I (from the Wrythe Memorial Events Committee) are currently working on a book about The Men of the Wrythe, due to be launched later this year. In connection with the Past on Glass lottery-funded project, Bernard Jacobs, the new Chair of Sutton Writers, was recently involved in the production of a book of new writing by our members and Kirsteen Coupar and Katherine Parsons delivered writing workshops in local venues.