The Oasis Social Club surprised commuters during last week’s pop-up performances. Pic: Ashley David Hardman

The Oasis Social Club have had a successful week hosting pop-up events across the city, which have included Cardboard Sumo, Aerobics and a Landscape Locomotive drawing class.

The Oasis Social Club is a mobile social club sponsored by the Arts Council, England and its purpose is to bring back the social atmosphere of a working men’s club.

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Thursday September 17 welcomed a tour from the station to the Lancashire Archives with an introduction to Preston’s local history, before visitors were treated to a sneak peak at the work-in-progress solo production, The Preston Bill which comes to Saturday’s Lancashire Encounter, and The Continental later this year.

The Oasis Social Club in Preston. Pic: Ashley David Hardman

‘Brassed Off with Mags’ on Friday September 17 was a workshop of engraving brassware before a drawing workshop that afternoon with Denise Braithwaite looked at sights and sounds around Preston railway station.

Denise Braithwate is a character played by illustrator Rebecca Davies. Rebecca developed the character through an outreach programme, as well as research into the city and as a way to symbolise and represent a Prestonian.  Denise is a Preston North End fan, and was even a mascot for the club.

Rebecca said, “It was important to me that there was this real representation of Preston, from people that live in Preston and from people that travel through.”

The Oasis Social Club surprised commuters during last week’s pop-up performances. Pic: Ashley David Hardman

She said that the project was aiming at the community of commuters who often pass through the city, and wanting to give them a reason to get off an explore Preston, “I was fascinated by that and wanted to tempt people off the train.”

As well as aerobics, Saturday also played host to a World Cafe with practical philosopher Ayisha de Lanerolle which is described as an exploration into Northernness and Northern Grit and was accompanied by Preston favourites –  parched peas and butter pie.

Rounding off a busy week, was a manifesto for Preston hosted by the Preston Committee. In the manifesto was an outline brought together by local opinion which asked that the old Post Office building be re-opened into a social club for the arts.

Rebecca in character as Prestonian, Denise Braithwaite. Pic: Felicity Crawshaw

Other events included industraoke, a twist on karaoke, bingo and live music by The Moonbeams and all were a collaboration of They Eat Culture’s Hit The North programme.

Rebecca, running The Oasis Social Club, wanted to thank the support given from the committee members, They Eat Culture and passers-by and said that the pride Prestonians portray was something the events wanted to replicate and was really pleased with turnout for each event.